Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb’s status for Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final remains up in the air after he took a slapshot to the face in the first period of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. <\/p>\n
Head coach John Tortorella told reporters there was no update on McNabb ahead of Saturday’s game.<\/p>\n
McNabb suffered the injury after being hit with a shot off the stick of the Hurricanes’ Nikolaj Ehlers, which clocked in at 87 miles per hour, according to the broadcast. <\/p>\n
McNabb, who was holding his face, left the ice under his own power and did not return to the game.<\/p>\n
The game was scoreless at the time of McNabb’s injury. The Golden Knights played with five defensemen for the rest of the contest, which featured Vegas blowing an early 2-0 lead, then rallying to tie the game late in regulation only to lose on an overtime penalty kill.<\/p>\n
The series will now head to Las Vegas tied at 1-1.<\/p>\n
“You lose a guy like Nabber, who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said<\/a> after the game.<\/p>\n Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin added: “Anytime you see that happen to a teammate, especially a guy like Nabber, who’s a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough. It’s hard to see that to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”<\/p>\n McNabb has been skating on the Golden Knights’ top pairing alongside Shea Theodore while leading his team in penalty kill ice time<\/a> during the playoffs.<\/p>\n