John Erskine Reportedly Suspended 3 Games for Elbowing Wayne Simmonds

The Washington Capitals will be without defenseman John Erskine for three games following the NHL's decision to suspend him.

Katie Carrera of The Washington Post broke the news via Twitter.

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John Erskine suspended 3 games for elbowing Flyers Wayne Simmonds.

— Katie Carrera (@kcarrera) February 3, 2013"

Erskine was scheduled for a disciplinary hearing with the NHL on Saturday for an elbow to Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers, and it appears that the meeting didn't go all that well—hence the suspension.

Erskine was not held accountable by the on-ice refs who missed the hit, but the watchful eye of the NHL used video replay to see it.

The fact that Simmonds did not return to the game weighed on the minds of the NHL, according to CBS Sports.

Erskine will be suspended without pay, which means that the 32-year-old defenseman will lose out on more than $24,000.

The hit was a vicious one that caused serious damage to Simmonds (per USA Today).

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The Flyers forward had a bloody nose and after the game, general manager Paul Holmgren said that Simmonds' nose wasn't broken but that he had a head injury and a little bit of a whiplash effect.

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The Caps have struggled this season, going 2-5-1, and currently sit in fourth in the Southeast. Now the team will be without one of its defensemen against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins (twice).

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