Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to leave Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after taking a high-speed puck to the face during the first period. The incident occurred when a slap shot from Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers struck McNabb’s visor near his eyes, causing him to immediately exit the game and later be transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
McNabb, a 14-year NHL veteran and one of the Golden Knights' original players, did not return to the game, and the team had not provided an update on his condition as of early Friday morning. Vegas coach John Tortorella declined to comment on McNabb’s status post-game, following the Golden Knights' 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes.
Teammates expressed concern over McNabb’s well-being. Forward Brett Howden called the play "scary," while defenseman Noah Hanifin emphasized McNabb’s leadership role on the team. McNabb had recorded three assists in Game 1, marking the first three-assist performance of his career.
The Hurricanes evened the series at 1-1 after a dramatic comeback, including an overtime game-winning goal by Seth Jarvis. Vegas forward Brett Howden scored twice in the game, bringing his playoff total to 13 goals, putting him in contention for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.