Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb left Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after taking an 87 mph puck to the face in the first period. McNabb was struck by a shot from Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers while defending in front of goalie Carter Hart. The defenseman dropped to the ice before eventually getting to his skates and leaving the game clutching his nose.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported McNabb went to a hospital for evaluation after leaving Lenovo Center. Jeremy Lauzon moved up to replace McNabb next to Shea Theodore on the Golden Knights' top pairing. Vegas led the series 1-0 and had a 1-0 advantage in Game 2 when the injury occurred, forcing a lineup adjustment for the team.

McNabb has been a key contributor for Vegas during the playoffs with one goal and six assists in 16 games while averaging over 20 minutes per game. His absence creates a significant challenge for the Golden Knights as they try to build a lead in the Stanley Cup Final against the Hurricanes. The team's defensive depth will be tested with McNabb potentially missing multiple games.