Another night on the road. Another Flyers' loss.

And another injury casualty.

You'd never guess the hapless Caps, coming off two road losses and playing back-to-back games, would have more spunk and win crucial puck battles over the Flyers.

Yet, that's exactly what Adam Oates' club did with a 3-2 victory at Verizon Center on Friday night.

"They had a really strong third period, and we didn't have enough jump right from the get-go," Brayden Schenn said.

"When you play a hockey team that played the night before, gets in late, you need to get a jump on them early.

"Our start wasn't good enough, our third period wasn't good enough and the team should be worn down after six periods and … obviously, it was not good enough."

Peter Laviolette's club set a franchise record with 25 road victories last season but is a disturbing 1-5 away from home this season. Their overall record fell to 2-6-0.

What should have been a strong third period in a tie game would have saw the Flyers at least force overtime for a point. Instead, it was the Caps who had the grit.

They seemed to beat the Flyers to loose pucks all night.

Asked if you could explain the sluggish start and poor third, a visibly angry Laviolette said he could not.

Meanwhile, Wayne Simmonds has a head injury, the result of a first-period elbow to the face from Caps defenseman John Erskine.

"He has a head injury and a little bit of a whiplash going on right now," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "He seemed OK after the game. We'll wait to see tomorrow."

Holmgren said he was examined for a concussion but the doctors did not indicate that.

Laviolette said the hit "looked dirty."

The third period began 1-1 with the Caps having a 5-on-3 power play for 1:13.

Then, a scare. Alex Ovechkin's slapshot caught goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in the ribs.

"Actually, I got hit twice [by the puck] in the same spot," Bryzgalov said, pointing to his ribs on his right side. "I'm sore."