Philadelphia Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds left Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals in the first period after sustaining an elbow to the head from defenseman John Erskine.

Erskine stuck his elbow out to check Simmonds while both were pursuing a loose puck. The hit stopped play with 1:46 left in the period as Simmonds remained on the ice and received medical attention, but Erskine did not receive a penalty.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said after the game that Simmonds did not suffer a concussion or broken nose, while coach Peter Laviolette called the hit dirty, according to CSNPhilly.com’s Tim Panaccio.

Holmgren says Simmonds has a "head injury" with whiplash. No broken nose. No concussion as of now. Laviolette called it a dirty hit.—
Tim Panaccio (@tpanotchCSN) February 02, 2013

While Simmonds was treated on the bench, teammate Zac Rinaldo retaliated by going after Washington’s Matt Hendricks before the ensuing faceoff. Rinaldo later called the hit “improper,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Sam Carchidi.

Rinaldo on hit that sidelined Simmonds: "It was improper." #Flyer—
Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 02, 2013

Many reporters speculated that Erskine would receive a suspension from Department of Player Safety head Brendan Shanahan. As Yahoo! Sports’ Greg Wyshysnki pointed out, Rene Bourque was suspended for five games for a similar hit on Nicklas Backstrom last season.

The Capitals won the game, 3-2.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland was suspended for three games for an illegal hit on Chicago defenseman Marcus Kruger, according to an announcement today by NHL head disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan.

Engelland’s hit occurred midway through the first period of the Penguins’ 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday night. Kruger played the remainder of the period but later left the game and did not return.

Kruger and Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis were engaged in a struggle for the puck before Engelland charged into Kruger and leveled him into the boards, making contact with his head. Shanahan explained the illegality of the hit in a video released today.

“Although Engelland has Kruger lined up for what could potentially be a clean full body check,” Shanahan said, “his elevation and launch upon impact, as well as the way in which Engelland forcefully drives his hands and arms up into the face area, makes this in our eyes a recklessly targeted shot to Kreuger’s head.”

This is the third season in the NHL for the 29-year-old Engelland, who has no reputation for dirty play and no history of fines or suspensions.

The Penguins take on the Winnipeg Jets on the road Friday night.

Buffalo Sabres right wing Patrick Kaleta will face a hearing from NHL Senior Vice President, Player Safety and Hockey Operations, Brendan Shanahan to discuss his headbutt on Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek in Wednesday night’s game, NHL.com reports.

This is not Kaleta’s first documented headbutt in an NHL game. Earlier this season, Kaleta was fined by the League for his attempted headbutt on New Jersey Devils’ Travis Zajac.

As this current infraction is not Kaleta’s first, and because Shanahan requested a hearing, the NHL is likely to levy a suspension for the play.

In Brendan Shanahan’s short tenure as Senior VP of Player Safety and Hockey Operations, he has doled out multiple suspensions and has provided video commentary explanations in hopes of reducing dangerous head shots and injuries across the league.