Golden Knights defenseman to have hearing for hit, could face suspension

The Vegas Golden Knights could be down another defenseman for Thursday’s potential Game 6 clincher against the Anaheim Ducks.

Brayden McNabb will have a hearing Wednesday with the league’s Department of Player Safety for his hit on Ducks center Ryan Poehling in the first period of Game 5 Tuesday.

McNabb was called for interference nine minutes into the game when he delivered a late check to Poehling that caused his head to hit the glass. Poehling needed assistance off the ice and did not return.

McNabb was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

While the hit was clean and McNabb made no illegal contact to the head, the hit came well after the puck was cleared from Poehling.

The Knights, now leading the series 3-2, won 3-2 in overtime despite playing a majority of the game with only five defensemen.

In most cases, a hearing with Player Safety leads to a suspension. The 35-year-old has never been suspended in 885 regular season games and 115 playoff games.

Hearings have gone in the Knights’ favor before, though. Former center Nicolas Roy avoided suspension last postseason following a cross-check against Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic.

Roy was fined $7,812.50 instead.

The Knights are already without defenseman Jeremy Lauzon due to an upper-body injury he suffered in Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth. Lauzon has not played at all this series.

McNabb is the Knights’ best defensive defenseman, one of their best penalty killers and most reliable shot blockers. He’s played a team-high 34 minutes, 50 seconds shorthanded for a penalty killing unit that has killed 87.9 percent of power plays in the playoffs.

The Knights would have to recall a defenseman from Henderson if McNabb misses any time. Kaedan Korczak is the only available blue liner on the roster, but he’s a right-shot defenseman who would play on his weak side if he came back into the lineup.