New Delhi, June 5 -- The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals took a worrying turn on Thursday night when Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was struck in the face by an 87 mph slapshot from Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers. The incident happened in the first period of what turned into a 4-3 overtime loss for Vegas.

McNabb was holding his face as he left the ice under his own power. He was taken straight to the hospital for evaluation and did not return. The game was still scoreless when the puck hit him, making the moment even more tense in such a high-stakes contest.

The Golden Knights had to finish the game with only five defensemen. They started strong and built a 2-0 lead, but the Hurricanes fought back hard. Vegas tied th...