WASHINGTON -- Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was wearing an expression that implies his patience with this team is about to expire.
The compete level during Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Capitals just wasn’t there against a poorer opponent that was playing on back-to-back nights and coming off a road trip with a couple losses, too (see game recap).
“We started slow, for whatever reason,” Holmgren said. “I thought we got into the game and played pretty good after the first 8-10 minutes.
“Then, we made a couple of mistakes that cost us goals. I’m concerned because we’re falling behind here. We got to get going here.”
The Flyers are now 2-6-0 on the season and mired deep in the Eastern Conference standings.
He cited the club’s injury problems and depth as being problematic.
Holmgren could also lose forward Wayne Simmonds for a few games, too. Simmonds took an elbow to the face from John Erskine in the first period and did not return.
Even worse, Simmonds tumbled backwards, striking his head on the ice. Holmgren said he was examined for a concussion, but the doctors did not indicate that was the case. Holmgren said Simmonds had a “head injury,” and more won’t be known until Saturday.
Needless to say, Simmonds is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Carolina at Wells Fargo Center.
Erskine is almost certain to get tagged with at least a one- or two-game suspension from Brendan Shanahan on Saturday.
“If we lose Wayne for any stretch of time, that’s another big hole,” Holmgren said. “It’s hard to replace those kind of guys.”
Many of the Flyers did not get a good look at the hit.
“Two guys going opposite directions,” Mike Knuble said. “You couldn’t tell from the bench. I saw it with my own eyes, [not sure] whether it was shoulder or whatever.
“To have him get hurt and come out of the game, he’s a big presence on our team. A big factor in us winning game.”
Loose pucks
After Erskine’s hit on Simmonds, the Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo pounded Matt Hendricks in a fight. Both were tossed from the game -- a bit extreme. … Officiating was awful in the first period. … After being outshot 10-2 at one point in the first period, the Flyers went into intermission tied in shots, 11-11, and finished outshooting the Caps, 31-26. … With Rinaldo and Simmonds out of the game in the first period, coach Peter Laviolette had to juggle lines since this affected both the top line and the fourth line. Jakub Voracek and Brayden Schenn both alternated for Simmonds on the first line. … Luke Schenn finished minus-2 on the night. … The Flyers had 35 shots that didn’t get through -- 23 were blocked and 12 missed the net. Of that, Braydon Coburn had seven shots that didn’t get to the net. … This was the Flyers’ first regulation loss in Washington since losing 5-3 on Jan. 17, 2010.