Golden Knights’ John Tortorella refuses to provide Brayden McNabb Game 3 update

The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for their first home Stanley Cup Final game in three years, and they are hoping to have one of the most important players on the roster available for the critical tilt.

Brayden McNabb was taken to hospital after being hit in the face by an 87-mph slap shot off the stick of Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers in the first period of Game 2 in Raleigh.

He travelled with the team back to Las Vegas, but head coach John Tortorella refused to provide any information on the veteran defenseman.

“No update,” the bench boss said when asked if McNabb would be in the lineup for Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena.

Based on Tortorella’s comments, McNabb’s status remains unclear heading into Game 3. It’s the first time during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs that Tortorella hasn’t indicated whether an injured player would be available.

If McNabb can’t go, it’s expected that Kaeden Korczak will replace him in the lineup. Korczak was skating with the scratches on Saturday at an optional morning skate, along with defenseman Ben Hutton.

Korczak left the ice before the rest of the scratches, prompting The Athletic’s Jesse Granger to note that it was “not a good sign for McNabb.” More clarity should emerge once warmups begin later Saturday evening.

McNabb has been excellent throughout the postseason for Vegas and recorded three assists in Game 1. He regularly logs more than 20 minutes per night alongside Shea Theodore on the top pairing, contributing in all situations with his physicality, shot-blocking and defensive reliability.

His absence was especially noticeable on the penalty kill in Game 2, as the Hurricanes scored twice with the man advantage, including Seth Jarvis’ overtime winner.

Along with Korczak potentially entering the lineup, Jeremy Lauzon would likely be asked to shoulder a larger workload if McNabb is unavailable. Lauzon has struggled in the Final; he was on the ice for all four Carolina goals in Game 2 after posting a minus-two rating in Game 1.

“You get to the fourth round, you have to tap into that,” Tortorella said of the Knights’ defensive depth. “So, we’re very comfortable where we’re at.”

Puck drops on Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final just after 8:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena.

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