Golden Knights Edge Hurricanes 5-4 in Double Overtime to Take 2-1 Stanley Cup Final Lead

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime on Saturday night to take a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb played the game with at least two dozen stitches in his face after taking an 87 mph puck to the face in Game 2 on Thursday night at Carolina. He was taken to a hospital before Game 2 ended.

McNabb wore a caged helmet for the first time since his youth hockey days in Davidson, Saskatchewan. McNabb logged nearly 36 minutes of ice time, delivered a hip check to Carolina star Taylor Hall, and finished with two assists, including one on Shea Theodore's game-winner. "It's part of hockey," McNabb said.

" "A little tough, but I was able to get through it," McNabb said. "Felt pretty good for the most part. " Vegas coach John Tortorella said the performance stood out even among the demands of a long playoff run.

"When you get this far in the playoffs, it's not so much sometimes the end result, it's just attrition and all that goes in (with) what these athletes have to do to play as many games as we've played so far," Tortorella said. "Those are the things you remember. I've been fortunate to be in a few playoffs along the way and see some of this.

Tortorella added that he heard players yelling "warrior" about McNabb. "I'm just blown away, how he's gone about his business," Tortorella said. Shea Theodore said McNabb's performance ranked near the top during their nine years together in Vegas.

"The stuff he went through from last game and everything. I mean, it's 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," Theodore said. " McNabb has been with the Vegas Golden Knights franchise since its inaugural season in 2017-18 and has played in a franchise-record 647 games.

He leads the Golden Knights in blocked shots with 1,416, the most among NHL skaters since 2017-18.