LAS VEGAS (AP) 鈥� Brayden McNabb showed up for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final with at least two dozen stitches in his face that forced the Vegas Golden Knights defenseman to wear a caged helmet for the first time since his youth hockey days in Davidson, Saskatchewan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of hockey,鈥� McNabb said. 鈥淵ou get through it.鈥�
After the Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes with a on Saturday night, Vegas coach John Tortorella was a bit less measured in describing the 35-year-old McNabb.
鈥淲hen you get this far in the playoffs, it鈥檚 not so much sometimes the end result, it鈥檚 just attrition and all that goes in (with) what these athletes have to do to play as many games as we鈥檝e played so far,鈥� Tortorella said. 鈥淭hose are the things you remember. I鈥檝e been fortunate to be in a few playoffs along the way and see some of this. I haven鈥檛 seen something like this.
鈥淚 heard the players yelling 鈥榳arrior,鈥欌�� Tortorella said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more than that. I鈥檓 just blown away, how he鈥檚 gone about his business.鈥�
McNabb took an 87 mph puck to the face in Game 2 on Thursday night at Carolina, and was taken to a hospital before the game ended.
Two days later, with a flight home in between, McNabb was back on the ice for warmups. Wearing that caged helmet with 鈥渕id-20s, maybe 30鈥� stitches holding his wounds together, McNabb logged nearly 36 minutes of ice time, delivered an and finished with two assists, including one on
鈥淎 little tough, but I was able to get through it,鈥� McNabb said. 鈥淔elt pretty good for the most part. The cage was different, getting used to that was a little bit (different), but for the most part felt OK, especially felt better as the game went on.鈥�
McNabb’s grit has become familiar to Golden Knights fans. He’s been with the franchise since its inaugural season in 2017-18 and has played in a franchise-record 647 games. He also leads the Golden Knights in blocked shots with 1,416, which is the most among NHL skaters since 2017-18.
鈥淚t鈥檚 got to be near the top,鈥� Theodore said when asked how McNabb’s performance Saturday night ranked during their nine years together in Vegas. 鈥淭he stuff he went through from last game and everything. I mean, it鈥檚 incredible for him to kind of bounce back like that and be able to come in today, get ready to play, and I thought he played unbelievable.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just so impressive out there.鈥�
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