RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb took a puck to the face that knocked him out of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.
A slap shot from Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers hit McNabb square in the face just past the midway point of the first period. McNabb dropped his stick, went down to the ice and grabbed his nose as he skated immediately off and down the tunnel.
“It’s a scary play,' forward Brett Howden said. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK."
McNabb did not return, and Vegas went the rest of the way with just five defensemen.
“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough," captain Mark Stone said. "They battled as hard as they could.”
Coach John Tortorella said “they played well” and had no update when asked about McNabb’s condition after the Hurricanes’ overtime victory that tied the series.
McNabb was coming off the first three-assist performance of his NHL career in Game 1. He is one of three original Golden Knights players who have been around for the franchise's entire nine-year existence and are in the final for a third time.
“Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough,” fellow D-man Noah Hanifin said. “It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”
The Golden Knights had their optimum, healthy lineup back for the series opener when Jeremy Lauzon returned from his injury. That did not last long.
Either Ben Hutton, a left-handed shooter, or Kaedan Korczak, who was playing in place of Lauzon, figures to play in Game 3 on Saturday if McNabb is unavailable.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb takes a puck to the face during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb takes a puck to the face during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
ATLANTA (AP) — Chad Dallas was told on Tuesday he would be promoted for his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The call came on Lou Gehrig Day, and it happened to be about a year since Dallas's father, Tony, died from ALS, the neurodegenerative disease now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease in honor of the New York Yankees Hall of Famer.
“It was extremely special, like a little God wink,” Dallas said after allowing only two hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings to earn the win in the Blue Jays' 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.
Dallas was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo to serve as the Blue Jays' bulk reliever behind opener Mason Fluharty.
Dallas immediately was given the opportunity to prove he could thrive in a stressful situation. The Braves had a runner on third base after Michael Harris II doubled and advanced to third before Toronto manager John Schneider pulled Fluharty and summoned Dallas, a right-hander.
Dallas entered the game with one out in the second and stranded Harris on third base. He ended the inning by striking out Sandy León.
“It was cool, though,” Dallas said of inheriting the runner on third when he is more accustomed to starting games. “It was something kind of new. And all you can do is go out there and just give them your best stuff. And you know tonight, I felt like I did that a good bit.”
Schneider said pitching out of the jam helped to ease the rookie's nerves.
“I think getting out of that inning there kind of set him up to settle down a little bit,” said Schneider of Dallas. “And he was great, man. You know, gets his first win in his debut. So pretty cool. Breaking stuff was really, really good and did his part tonight.”
Dallas said he had “tons of emotions” as the anticipation grew for his major league debut. He had friends and family travel from Orange, Texas, and Knoxville, Tennessee, where he pitched in college for Tennessee.
“Dreamed of this day since I was 3 or 4, once I started realizing what professional baseball was,” Dallas said. “And tons of emotions ... tons of happy, super excited. But overall, it was an amazing experience.”
Dallas was only 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA at Buffalo in his comeback after missing the 2025 season following Tommy John surgery. But the right-hander made an impression on Schneider while perhaps proving he could help the Blue Jays as a reliever when there is no longer a need for another starter.
When asked what is next for Dallas, Schneider said “Beer shower and a good flight to Toronto.”
Added Schneider “But really impressed with the job that he did tonight. ... The overall message is just go out, compete, trust your stuff and you know, get ready for whatever’s next.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, center, speaks with pitcher Chad Dallas (37) and catcher Tyler Heineman (55) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, center, speaks with pitcher Chad Dallas (37) and catcher Tyler Heineman (55) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Mason Fluharty delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
A group of 'tarps off' shirtless male baseball fans cheer from the upper deck of Truist Park as the Atlanta Braves host the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes, right, celebrates with first base coach Mark Budzinski (53) after hitting an RBI single against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, celebrates with Myles Straw, right, after the Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, celebrates with Kazuma Okamoto, right, after the Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
