Erskine suspended 3 games; Simmonds has concussion

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine learned he will sit for three games for his elbowing infraction that injured Wayne Simmonds.

The Philadelphia Flyers aren't sure how long Simmonds will be out. They announced on Saturday night that the winger had a concussion and will be out indefinitely.

NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan handed down a three-game suspension Saturday for Erskine's hit. He will forfeit $24,324.33 in pay.

The suspension is the longest of the three handed down by Shanahan this season.

Erskine, a first-time offender, wasn't penalized during Friday night's game for the play, which happened quickly and at first glance appeared to be a hard hit. But replays showed Erskine lifting his elbow before making contact with Simmonds.

Shanahan's accompanying video shows Erskine making eye contact with Simmonds before delivering the hit as a way to prevent the forward from breaking out of the zone. Simmonds, whose nose was bloodied but not broken on the play, had a head injury and a little bit of whiplash, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said after the game.

"While we acknowledge there are no malicious intent and that Erskine was reacting to getting beat (to a puck), this nevertheless is a reckless elbow to the head that caused a serious injury," Shanahan said.

Simmonds had a career-best 28 goals last season and had two goals and three assists in eight games this season.

The Flyers moved Tye McGinn into Simmonds' spot on the first line with Claude Giroux and Danny Briere for Saturday's game. Simmonds had moved into that spot after Scott Hartnell suffered a broken foot.

Meanwhile, the NHL said it was rescinding the match penalty that was handed to St. Louis Blues captain David Backes on Friday night.

VIDEO: See the Backes hit

Backes was ejected for a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kent Huskins, but replays showed that it was a clean shoulder-to-chest hit. Huskins' head did snap back after Backes made contact because of the force of the hit.

Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk scored the winning goal on the ensuing five-minute power play.

Huskins played in Saturday night's game.