McNabb Ejected After Hit Leaves Poehling With Upper-Body Injury in Game 5

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb is heading to the dressing room early, and the Anaheim Ducks just lost a key forward to injury. McNabb took a five-minute major for interference and earned a game misconduct after a hard check on Ducks center Ryan Poehling midway through the first period of their Game 5 matchup Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

The Hit That Changed the Game

McNabb drove his shoulder into Poehling with force, slamming him into the boards. The back of Poehling's head caught the glass hard on impact. He hit the ice, wobbled as he tried to get up, then went back down. The Ducks had to help him off the ice to the locker room, and Anaheim announced he would not return due to an upper-body injury. That's a massive blow for Anaheim in a tied series.

The Power Play Pays Off

The Ducks converted on the man advantage that followed the misconduct. Rookie Beckett Sennecke scored off a rebound with 7:24 left in the first period, extending his goals streak to four games. Poehling had entered Game 5 with four goals and an assist across 10 playoff games, so losing him changes the dynamic for what remains.

The series sits locked at two wins apiece heading into Game 5, so momentum and lineup depth matter more than ever. An early ejection and a key player sidelined with an upper-body injury could ripple through the rest of this matchup for Vegas and Anaheim alike.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.