Brayden McNabb Injured in Stanley Cup Final After Taking Puck to the Face

A frightening incident briefly halted Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Thursday night. Brayden McNabb, a defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights, was hospitalized after being struck in the face by a shot.

The slap shot, delivered by Carolina Hurricanes’ Nikolaj Ehlers, hit McNabb at a speed of 87 mph during the first period. The impact occurred just past the midway point. McNabb immediately dropped his stick, grasped his nose, and quickly left the ice, heading down the tunnel.

Early in the second period, ESPN reported that McNabb had been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. This incident came after McNabb’s impressive three-assist performance in Game 1, marking the first time in his NHL career he achieved such a feat.

McNabb is one of three original players who have remained with the Golden Knights since the franchise’s establishment. The team is participating in their third Stanley Cup Final in its nine-year history.

“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough,” said team captain Mark Stone. “They battled as hard as they could.”

Noah Hanifin, a fellow defenseman, added, “Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”

Head coach John Tortorella did not provide an update on McNabb’s condition after the game.

Despite leading 2-0 in the third period, the Golden Knights lost their advantage when Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis scored in overtime to even the series at one before the teams head west.

This report includes information contributed by The Associated Press.