The Vegas Golden Knights took a 3-2 lead in their series against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday with a 3-2 overtime win. But most of the talk after the game centered around a late hit by Brayden McNabb on Ryan Poehling. Fans are now calling for a hefty suspension for McNabb and labeling the hit dirty.
The second-round matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks has been very hard-fought. In fact, the young and talented Ducks have consistently matched the heavier and more experienced Vegas squad throughout the series.
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Vegas lead series
However, on Tuesday, the Golden Knights gained the upper hand in the series with a 3-2 overtime win, thanks to a goal by Pavel Dorofeyev four minutes into overtime. The series now heads back to California for Game 6 on Thursday.
“High marks for the whole team tonight. I’m proud of the team tonight, getting down after losing Brayden McNabb, one of our top defensemen. He played three minutes, and we still found a way to get it done. Really proud of the hockey players,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella told reporters after the game.
Brayden McNabb hit on Poehling
The reason the Golden Knights lost Brayden McNabb was a late hit nine minutes into the game. McNabb drove Ducks forward Ryan Poehling into the boards. Poehling had to be helped off the ice and did not return due to an upper-body injury. After a review, McNabb received a major penalty and a game misconduct. But fans are not satisfied with the punishment.
Fans are furious
Online, many are calling for a hefty suspension for Brayden McNabb.
“One of the biggest POS’s in the league should get at least a one-game suspension, but he’s a golden boy, so I doubt it,” one fan wrote on X.
“They need to make these types of hits reciprocal. Player out with a concussion for a month, you sit unpaid for a month,” another fan wrote.
“No matter the contact, the puck is nowhere near him. Therefore, it was not a clean hit at all. McNabb crossed the entire sheet of ice to drill him. It was cheap and deserves a suspension,” a third fan wrote.
You can watch the hit below.
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