- John Tortorella gave no update on Brayden McNabb’s status for Game 3
- McNabb took an 87 mph shot to the face in Game 2 and went to the hospital
- Read below for the latest on McNabb and where the Cup Final stands
Vegas is keeping everyone guessing on Brayden McNabb.
John Tortorella offered no update on his defenseman ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina on Saturday. Jesse Granger of The Athletic pointed out it’s the first time all postseason that Tortorella hasn’t said before a game whether a player is in or out.
McNabb’s night ended early in Game 2. He took an 87 mph slap shot from Nikolaj Ehlers flush in the face during the first period, dropped to the ice, and skated off clutching his nose. He never came back, and the team sent him to a Raleigh hospital for evaluation.
He went down with the Knights leading 1-0. Vegas lost 4-3 in overtime, and the series headed back to the desert tied 1-1.
Tortorella met with reporters Saturday morning and kept the door shut on his blueliner. Hear the full pregame availability:
The early read isn’t encouraging. Kaedan Korczak left the optional morning skate ahead of the rest of the group, and he’s the likely fill-in if McNabb can’t dress. Tortorella said he trusts his back end either way, name-checking Dylan Coghlan, Ben Hutton, and Korczak.
McNabb is 35 and has anchored the Vegas blue line since the franchise played its first game in 2017. Losing a shutdown defender for a home Final game would sting.
Game 3 drops tonight at T-Mobile Arena at 8 p.m. ET.
Warmups will give T-Mobile Arena its answer.
