Ethen Frank played just 1:22 of ice time for the Washington Capitals against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday afternoon.
The 28-year-old forward was injured with 9:26 remaining in the first period, getting shoved hard into the goal post by Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews. Frank was driving the net and got a shot off on goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood before Toews pushed him from behind.
Frank stayed down in Colorado’s net in clear pain before making his way off the ice and down the tunnel into the Capitals’ locker room. He appeared to be favoring the left side of his body.
During the first intermission, the Capitals announced that Frank would not return to the game due to a lower-body injury.
Frank was lined up on the team’s fourth line again, playing to the right of Hendrix Lapierre and Brandon Duhaime.
The Capitals are currently carrying two extra forwards on their roster, Ivan Miroshnichenko and David Kampf. Miroshnichenko has been a healthy scratch for eight games in a row, while Kampf has been held out of the lineup due to visa issues and welcoming his second child. Kampf’s availability for the team’s upcoming road games remains in question.
Head coach Spencer Carbery recently spoke about wanting to get Miroshnichenko into a game soon. The 22-year-old winger has played in four games for the Capitals this season.
