Wayne Simmonds Hoping to Return to Flyers Lineup Soon

Even after he was elbowed in the head last Friday by Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine, Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds says he didn’t have a headache.

A concussion, but no headache.

No hard feelings, either. Erskine sent Simmonds a text message after the game, passing along his apologies for the hit and wished for good health.

“I’m happy he did that,” Simmonds told reporters. “I don’t think it was intended to hurt me. I’ve watched him play. He’s a big, strong, play-at-home D man. He plays physical. I’ve never seen him intentionally try to hurt someone.”

Erskine was not penalized in the game, but was given a three-game suspension for the hit by league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. He will serve the last game of his suspension tonight when the Caps play the Penguins in Pittsburgh, but it’s unclear when Simmonds will return.

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