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Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb ejected from key Game 5 vs Ducks for Ryan Poehling hit
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- Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb ejected from key Game 5 vs Ducks for Ryan Poehling hit
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The Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks are locked in a key Game 5 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Pacific Division foes split the first two games, giving home-ice advantage back to Vegas. Early in Game 5, Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected for an ugly interference penalty, and it cost the team immediately.
Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl had already stripped Ducks forward Ryan Poehling of the puck when McNabb came barrelling in. The defenseman finishing the hit on Poehling when the puck was long gone caused the penalty. But the vicious contact sent Poehling to the ice, bringing out the medical staff. That led the officials to call a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
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On the ensuing powerplay, Cutter Gauthier found rookie Beckett Sennecke for the rookie's fifth goal in 11 playoff games. McNabb's penalty has already cost the Golden Knights, and it could get worse with only five defensemen available for the rest of the game.
The Ducks won Game 4 in Anaheim to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. Now, with McNabb out for the rest of this game, they have a chance to take a commanding 3-2 series lead. Despite some struggles from goalie Lukas Dostal, they are hanging around with the veteran Golden Knights squad.
McNabb is one of the few original Golden Misfits remaining on this Vegas squad. He has spent nine of his 14 NHL seasons with the Golden Knights, playing 110 postseason games with the club, including this one. McNabb became a 2023 Stanley Cup Champion while playing nearly 20 minutes a night for that squad.
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Despite the loss of McNabb in this period, the Golden Knights were able to tie the game late in the first period. Can they prevail with a short bench? Or will this penalty end up costing them a key game?
Related: Pavel Dorofeyev's NSFW reaction to Game 5 injury scare vs. Ducks
Related: Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl opens up on 'hard two months' after Game 5 Ducks win
