Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella isn’t tipping his hand on defenceman Brayden McNabb’s status for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night.
According to Jesse Granger of The Athletic, it’s the first time this postseason the Golden Knights’ head coach has not provided an update about a player being available or not prior to a game.
McNabb was injured in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes after taking a Nikolaj Ehlers slap shot to the face in the opening period.
McNabb did not return to the game and went to a local hospital for evaluation. Tortorella did not update his status after the game, a 4-3 Hurricanes’ overtime win, but did say the injured defenceman was travelling back to Vegas with the team.
He played seven shifts spread out over 5:39 of ice time in Game 3 before being injured.
The 35-year-old blueliner had five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 63 regular-season games for the Golden Knights. He has added one goal and seven points in 17 playoff games during Vegas’ run this spring.
The Golden Knights and Hurricanes sit even at one game apiece in the best-of-seven series.
