The Vegas Golden Knights will have their top-line defenceman for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Brayden McNabb‘s status was revealed at warmups ahead of Game 3. This morning’s optional skate was for the scratches only, but it is notable that Kaedan Korczak left the skate earlier than the other scratches, which seemingly posed a bad sign for McNabb. Head coach John Tortorella and the players did not disclose any details about McNabb’s status before warmups tonight. However, it turns out that McNabb will persevere and draw in for Game 3 with the full cage. The ultimate mind games.
Big cheers as Brayden McNabb, with cage, is featured on the Jumbotron for Game 3 in Vegas pic.twitter.com/4fb5Dl2n58
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 6, 2026
McNabb’s Status and His Injury Does Not Stop Him For Game 3
Credit Image: © Peter Joneleit/Cal Sport Media
McNabb was struck in the face by an 87-mile-per-hour slap shot from Nikolaj Ehlers midway through the first period of Game 2. He then had to go to the local hospital for repairs, but did travel with the team back to Vegas. It is suspected that he has some form of nose injury.
McNabb has missed just one game in the playoffs so far, despite numerous injury scares. He was suspended for Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2, where Vegas won that game 5-1 even in his absence. Jeremy Lauzon was also injured, not having played since May 1 at that point, meaning that the team was down two regulars. With both McNabb and Lauzon in tonight, the defensive pairings for Vegas tonight should be as follows:
McNabb – Theodore
Hanifin – Andersson
Lauzon – Coghlan
McNabb’s Tenacity and Dedication to the Game On Full Display
McNabb is a trooper, known to not miss many games unless he absolutely cannot go. He missed 19 games this season with an upper-body injury, after not missing any regular-season games for the three seasons prior. As he is a very important piece to stabilize the defence, it comes as no surprise that the veteran defenceman will persevere and play through his pain.
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
McNabb had to leave the game after taking a shot high pic.twitter.com/dKkOj5mu0K
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 5, 2026
