During Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, a frightening moment occurred as Brayden McNabb of the Vegas Golden Knights suffered an injury. He took an 87 mph shot to the face, which resulted in his hospitalization.
The incident unfolded when Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers delivered a powerful slap shot midway through the first period, striking McNabb directly. The defenseman dropped his stick and clutched his nose as he skated off the ice and headed to the locker room.
The game took place in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 4, 2026.
Reports from the ESPN broadcast indicated that McNabb was taken to a local hospital early in the second period. Previously, McNabb had an impressive Game 1 with three assists, marking a career milestone.
McNabb is notable for being one of the three original players from the Vegas Golden Knights, a team with a nine-year history. This marks their third appearance in the finals.
Team captain Mark Stone commented on the situation, expressing the difficulty of losing a vital player like McNabb, stating, “You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough.”
Fellow defenseman Noah Hanifin remarked on the pressure of witnessing an injury of such significance, hoping for McNabb’s swift recovery. Head coach John Tortorella did not provide an update after the game.
The match saw the Golden Knights initially leading 2-0 in the third period, only to see their advantage dissipate. Carolina’s Seth Jarvis scored in overtime, leveling the series as the teams prepare to move to the west for the next game.
The Associated Press contributed additional details to the report.
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