Caps' Erskine suspended 3 games

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine was given a three-game suspension Saturday for a hit he made on Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds.

The National Hockey League decided Erskine deserved the punishment for his hit to the Flyers forward's head in their game Friday. Erskine was not given a penalty on the play.

Simmonds left the game and did not return.

NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said in a video explanation of the ruling that Erskine gives Simmonds an elbow to the face when he realizes Simmonds is going to get beat him to the puck along the boards.

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

The hit will also cost Erskine $24,324.33 in salary. He could return to play Feb. 9 against Florida.