Ethen Frank leaves game against Dallas Stars after crashing into Mikko Rantanen trucc
The Washington Capitals suffered another injury to their forward corps, losing Ethen Frank against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
Frank went to the locker room in the final minutes of the third period after appearing to lay a body check on Stars winger Mikko Rantanen. When the two collided near the boards, Rantanen — who is listed as five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than Frank — barely seemed to move, leaving Frank to absorb the full impact.
The hit sent Frank flying backwards before he landed hard on his right arm and side. He clutched his head in the immediate aftermath of the fall, though it did not appear to hit the ice.
Frank was slow to get back up on his feet and showed visible pain while receiving attention from Capitals head athletic trainer Jason Serbus, requiring help to get off the ice while holding his left arm at a 90-degree angle. Head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame that he had not yet gotten an update on Frank’s status.
Several of Washington’s forwards had already sustained injuries this season even before Frank got hurt. Frank was only on Tuesday’s roster to begin with because of a lower-body injury Dylan Strome sustained against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, and the team previously went without Pierre-Luc Dubois for five games earlier in the month. Defenseman Rasmus Sandin also remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Frank has played in three of the Capitals’ ten games this season, scoring one assist and averaging 11:18 per night.
The Capitals will have two days off before their next game against the New York Islanders on Friday. If both Frank and Strome (who has been labeled out day-to-day) are unable to play, the team will either see extra forward Sonny Milano draw back into the lineup or will have to make another move.
Kevin Clifton opens up on Strictly host rumours after he and partner Stacey Dooley tipped to replace Claudia and Tess liennhi
FORMER Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton has broken his silence after he and partner Stacey Dooley were tipped for the show’s hosting roles.
The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman, 53, alongside her Strictly sidekick Tess Daly, 56, announced their plans to step down from their iconic BBC telly role on Thursday.
During Saturday’s live episode, the duo got teary as they opened the first show since announcing they were quitting at the end of the series.
The two made history as primetime television’s first female presenting duo when they paired up to co-host the show in 2014.
Both had been part of Strictly since 2004, Tess hosting the main show with Bruce Forsyth and Claudia on spin-off It Takes Two.
Last week, all the stars in line to replace Tess and Claudia came to light and, on Monday’s episode of ITV daytime series Good Morning Britain, Grimsby-born Kevin addressed the speculation.
Kevin quit Strictly in 2020 after seven years on the BBC series as a show pro.
This came two years after he scooped the Glitter Ball trophy with partner and baby-momma Stacey.
After GMB anchors Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins told how he was a name in the frame, he said: “Stace would be amazing.
“But we have had no conversations about it.”
Yet the pair are no strangers to working together, and are currently starring in the stage version of 2:22 A Ghost Story.
Presenter Stacey’s odds are currently 2/1 and considering the BBC are looking for two hosts, Kevin could well be a great choice to join his ladylove.
Meanwhile, drag queen La Voix threw her name in the frame for the job on Saturday’s live Strictly show.
Other suggestions include Holly Willoughby and Zoe Ball.
EXIT LOWDOWN
It comes after The Sun revealed the real reason behind Tess and Claud’s shock departure.
BBC bosses are said to have been blindsided by their departure, with only a small number of people in the TV industry made aware of their intentions.
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Here is a full list of who has been lucky enough to win the famous Glitterball Trophy:
- 2004 – Natasha Kaplinsky
- 2004 – Jill Halfpenny
- 2005 – Darren Gough
- 2006 – Mark Ramprakash
- 2007 – Alesha Dixon
- 2008 – Tom Chambers
- 2009 – Chris Hollins
- 2010 – Kara Tointon
- 2011 – Harry Judd
- 2012 – Louis Smith
- 2013 – Abbey Clancy
- 2014 – Caroline Flack
- 2015 – Jay McGuiness
- 2016 – Ore Oduba
- 2017 – Joe McFadden
- 2018 – Stacey Dooley
- 2019 – Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Rose Ayling-Ellis
- 2022 – Hamza Yassin
- 2023 – Ellie Leach
- 2024 – Chris McCausland
It’s understood they secretly filmed the exit video weeks ago — and released it mid-series so as not to overshadow the eventual winner.
Their last show will be on Christmas Day.
A source said: “Claudia and Tess have known they were leaving Strictly since last year. They felt like it was their time to go.
“They discussed this privately and agreed they would walk away together, but kept it firmly under wraps.”
Their exit comes after the BBC show was hit by a string of recent scandals involving its professional dancers and behind-the-scenes conduct.
Plummeting viewing figures and “underwhelming” line-ups even prompted betting giants to offer odds earlier this year on this being the show’s final outing.
EXIT STATEMENTS
In a statement to her fans, Tess said it was “time to say goodbye” and described Strictly as “about joy, celebration, and bringing people together”.
Tess also paid tribute to her co-host, adding: “To my beloved Claud – what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you.
“You’re one of a kind, and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we’ve shared.”
Claudia called the show “the greatest relationship of my career”.
She said: “Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake-tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it.
“I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go.”
She also remembered legendary judge Len Goodman, saying: “I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know.)
“And the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to cohosting on Saturday nights.
She praised Tess, adding: “As for Tess – I’m so, so lucky I got to stand next to you. You’re funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you.”
