Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb suspended one game, will miss Game 6

Danny Webster, Las Vegas Review-Journal on May 13, 2026

Published in Hockey

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LAS VEGAS — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for Game 6 of the team’s second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks for his hit on center Ryan Poehling on Tuesday.

It’s the first time McNabb, 35, has been suspended in his NHL career.

McNabb had a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Wednesday. He was given a five-minute major and game misconduct nine minutes into Tuesday’s Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.

The Knights went on to win, 3-2 in overtime, and lead the series 3-2.

The decision, per the league, states that Poehling “is in no way eligible” to be checked on the play.

Knights center Tomas Hertl cleared the puck from the neutral zone, according to the ruling, which should have resulted in ample time for McNabb to ease up on the contact.

McNabb connected on a “forceful hit” to Poehling that caused injury and forced him to miss the remainder of the game.

The Knights could potentially be down two defensemen in their close-out game, with Jeremy Lauzon still nursing an upper-body injury he suffered in Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth in the first round.

McNabb is the Knights’ best defensive defenseman, one of their best penalty killers and most reliable shot blockers. He’s played a team-high 34 minutes, 50 seconds shorthanded for a penalty-killing unit that has killed 87.9% of power plays in the playoffs.

The Knights would have to recall a defenseman from the Silver Knights if McNabb misses any time. Kaedan Korczak is the only available blue liner on the roster, but he’s a right-shot defenseman who would play on his weak side if he came back into the lineup.