Updated: 1:13 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Before the game, Wayne Simmonds said they were friends.
During the game, you would have never guessed it.
At 13:09 in the third period of the Flyers’ 2-0 Game 1 loss to the Capitals on Thursday night (see story), Simmonds did what he never shies from doing, coming to the defense of a teammate after Andrew MacDonald was boarded by Tom Wilson.
Simmonds made a beeline for Wilson and the two buddies who train together in the offseason instantly dropped their gloves (see highlights).
“There’s no friends on the ice,” Simmonds said.
The game featured 56 penalty minutes and 55 hits.
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“That’s exactly what I was expecting,” Simmonds said. “Those games are always fun to play in. You’re going out there, everybody is getting hit, you’re giving hits, you’re getting hits. That’s what playoff hockey is supposed to be about.”
Wilson won’t be kindly received when the series shifts to Philadelphia.
Not after Game 1 or what he said prior to it during the week.
“Philly, they’re not necessarily the toughest team in the league, but they do have that team mentality that they’re tough, from all four lines,” he said Tuesday, via CSNMidAtlantic. “The last time we played them they’re slashing our guys, chirping our guys, everyone. It’s going to be emotional and we’ve just got to make sure we let our playing do the talking."
Wilson says he has history with Flyers fans.
“I think I got booed off the ice with a curse word after I hit Brayden Schenn a couple years ago,” he said. “I know a lot of the Philly fans didn’t like me ever since then. My first year we had some brawls and that was an emotional year.”
While Simmonds sent a message Thursday by having his teammate’s back, it came at a bad time for the Flyers. Wilson was whistled for boarding on the MacDonald hit, which would have put the Flyers — down just 1-0 at the time — on the power play.
Both Simmonds and Wilson received fighting majors, but the man advantage was nullified because Simmonds was also called for roughing. Instead of a power play for the Flyers, Simmonds was sent to the box.
"That was his choice, not ours," Washington head coach Barry Trotz said. "He's a good player."
Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol on Friday offered his take on Simmonds' decision.
“If anybody’s been around our hockey team, they know the leadership that Simmonds provides for our group, the type of presence that he gives," he said. "We’ll discuss a couple of things amongst ourselves as a team, but Simmer is a very strong, respected leader on this team and that will not ever change."
The Flyers went 0 for 4 on the power play, whiffing on three in the first period, while giving the Capitals six man advantages.
“I think we have to be a bit more disciplined,” Mark Streit said. “I think we took too many penalties and that gave them a little bit of momentum. Their dangerous on their PP.”
Hits and fights will be prevalent this time of year.
“Playoffs, everything is elevated, emotions are high, there’s a lot at stake,” Steve Mason said. “And I think you saw that with how the game played out here.”
Coaching his first NHL playoff game, Hakstol expected what he saw.
“I don’t think anything was a surprise out there,” he said. “Both teams are competing hard and there’s a little bit of emotion and a little bit of intensity.”
Just a little between friends.