Game 2 became the proverbial "trouble in paradise" game for the Vegas Golden Knights. They blew a 2-0 lead and ultimately lost in overtime, thanks to Seth Jarvis. But that wasn't the only bad thing that happened to the Golden Knights: they also saw Brayden McNabb take a puck to the face.
But Shea Theodore provided a key update that adds to his mystery status. It came in the form of... seeing him in person. Yes, I'm not kidding when I say this, yet this is true.
Shea Theodore said he just saw McNabb, but was careful not to provide an update of his status for tonight.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 6, 2026
Of course, John Tortorella was tight-lipped on whether the Original Misfit was playing in Game 3 or not. That's an unusual thing to do before a pivotal Stanley Cup Final matchup, especially against a tricky Carolina Hurricanes team. Still, there hasn't been a clear indication of whether he's playing or not.
That has ranged from Kaeden Korczak leaving the ice early to Theodore's mini-update to all of McNabb's potential replacements being on the ice. Regardless, the Golden Knights need their best defender on the ice for a critical Game 3. Why, you ask?
Well, 3.4 defensive point shares in 2025-26 is a good start. Sure, that's a far cry from his prior campaign, where he had 6.6. However, McNabb still has the stick and positioning to take away space. The Misfit also added 142 blocked shots and 110 hits to the mix, making him one of the most important stay-at-home defenders on the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights also need as many defenders fending off the Hurricanes' forecheck as possible. Carolina swarmed Vegas offensively late in the third period, beating them consistently on the rush. That can't happen again, especially if you want to maintain home-ice advantage.
Regardless, Vegas needs its Misfit back for Game 3. When you're in the Stanley Cup Final, it's an "all hands on deck" effort where everyone must play. That includes McNabb, who provides a structurally sound defense that the Golden Knights desperately need.
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