McNabb hospitalized after puck strike forces him from Game 2

McNabb hospitalized after puck strike forces him from Game 2

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was taken to a local hospital after absorbing an 87 mph slap shot to the face during the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 4, 2026. The shot, fired by Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers, struck McNabb square in the face just past the midway point of the period. He dropped his stick, fell to the ice, grabbed his nose, and skated immediately to the tunnel.

The ESPN broadcast reported early in the second period that McNabb had left the arena and been transported to a nearby hospital. Head coach John Tortorella said after the game that he had no update on McNabb’s condition. The injury removed one of Vegas’s most reliable defensemen at a critical stage of the series, with captain Mark Stone and fellow defenseman Noah Hanifin both noting how significant his absence was to the team’s structure and leadership.

McNabb had recorded three assists in Game 1, the first three-assist performance of his NHL career. He is one of three original Golden Knights players who have been part of the franchise since its inaugural season and was appearing in the Stanley Cup Final for a third time. His role as a high-minutes defenseman made his absence immediately felt as the game progressed.

Vegas led 2-0 in the third period before Carolina pulled level and Seth Jarvis scored in overtime to even the series at one game apiece. The two teams are scheduled to return to Las Vegas for Game 3, with the Golden Knights facing the challenge of managing their defensive depth without McNabb until the full extent of his injury is known.