The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for his or her first home Stanley Cup Final game in three years, they usually are hoping to have some of the vital players on the roster available for the critical tilt.
Brayden McNabb was taken to hospital after being hit within the face by an 87-mph slap shot off the stick of Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers in the primary period of Game 2 in Raleigh.
He travelled with the team back to Las Vegas, but head coach John Tortorella refused to supply any information on the veteran defenseman.
“No update,” the bench boss said when asked if McNabb could be within the lineup for Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena.
Based on Tortorella’s comments, McNabb’s status stays unclear heading into Game 3. It’s the primary time in the course of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs that Tortorella hasn’t indicated whether an injured player could be available.
If McNabb cannot go, it’s expected that Kaeden Korczak will replace him within the lineup. Korczak was skating with the scratches on Saturday at an optional morning skate, together with defenseman Ben Hutton.
Korczak left the ice before the remaining of the scratches, prompting The Athletic’s Jesse Granger to notice that it was “not a great sign for McNabb.” More clarity should emerge once warmups begin later Saturday evening.
McNabb has been excellent throughout the postseason for Vegas and recorded three assists in Game 1. He frequently logs greater than 20 minutes per night alongside Shea Theodore on the highest pairing, contributing in all situations together with his physicality, shot-blocking and defensive reliability.
His absence was especially noticeable on the penalty kill in Game 2, because the Hurricanes scored twice with the person advantage, including Seth Jarvis’ extra time winner.
Together with Korczak potentially entering the lineup, Jeremy Lauzon would likely be asked to shoulder a bigger workload if McNabb is unavailable. Lauzon has struggled within the Final; he was on the ice for all 4 Carolina goals in Game 2 after posting a minus-two rating in Game 1.
“You get to the fourth round, you’ve to tap into that,” Tortorella said of the Knights’ defensive depth. “So, we’re very comfortable where we’re at.”
Puck drops on Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final just after 8:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena.
The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for his or her first home Stanley Cup Final game in three years, they usually are hoping to have some of the vital players on the roster available for the critical tilt. Brayden McNabb was taken to hospital after being hit within the face by an 87-mph slap shot off the stick of Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers in the primary period of Game 2 in Raleigh.