The Vegas Golden Knights will be without defenseman Brayden McNabb in their potential clinching game after he was suspended for one game for “his late forceful check” that injured the Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Poehling.
McNabb missed most of Game 5 for the first period hit, which left Poehling woozy. McNabb received a five-minute major for interference and game misconduct. Poehling left the game with assistance and didn’t return.
The NHL Player Safety department said Poehling was no longer eligible to be checked at the time he was.
“With the puck having long been cleared away from Poehling and with sufficient time to elect to avoid or minimize contact, McNabb instead finishes the hit with considerable force,” the NHL Player Safety department said in its suspension video.
The Golden Knights lead the second round series 3-2 and can clinch a trip to the Western Conference final with a Game 6 win on Thursday night in Anaheim.
McNabb will be eligible to return in Game 7, if there is one, or in Game 1 of the conference finals if Vegas wins Thursday. The defenseman has averaged 20 minutes a game in the playoffs, with one goal, two assists, 22 blocked shots and 23 hits.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb suspended one game for interference
