‘Don’t even ask me:’ Knights respond to defenseman’s ejection from Game 5

The actual hit by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb appeared to be a clean one.

The timing, however, was very questionable.

McNabb delivered a crushing check to Anaheim forward Ryan Poehling along the boards midway through the first period that took both players out of a Game 5 the Knights eventually won 3-2 in overtime at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night.

The Knights now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Thursday night at Honda Center in Anaheim.

McNabb was called for a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, rulings that were upheld by replay officials.

Poehling was assisted off the ice after several minutes and did not return to the game. The puck was no longer in Poehling’s possession as McNabb approached and took him out.

A penalty was undoubtedly warranted, though there is certainly question about whether it would have been upgraded if not for the brutality of the hit and the resulting injury.

“Don’t even ask me, please,” Knights coach John Tortorella said, pointing to a hit that appeared similarly late on Dylan Coghlan at the end of regulation when no penalty was called. “There’s no sense talking about it. Did you see the hit on Coghlan at the end of the period? I just don’t get it.”

According to Section 7, line 56.5 of the NHL rulebook, a game misconduct is imposed in the event of a major penalty that results in an injury.

“They lose a guy, we lose a guy,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’re down a centerman and a very important guy for us.

“They saw the hit, and the right call was made. That’s how I saw it.”

The Ducks took the lead on a Beckett Sennecke goal on the ensuing power play, but only put one in the net with the man-advantage for five minutes.

“I didn’t really see it live,” Knights forward Brandon Saad said. “I think the puck bounced away and he was already committed to a check. I don’t know if it’s different if the guy doesn’t get hurt.

“At the end of the day, it is what it is. I thought the (penalty kill) did a good job. We gave up one, but we did a good job of just sticking with it.”

The Knights also lost Pavel Dorofeyev for an extended stretch on Tuesday night after he blocked a shot with his lower body and had to return to the locker room, but he did return and went on to score the game-winner in overtime.

The Knights already were playing without captain Mark Stone, who missed his second-consecutive game with a lower-body injury.

“Finding a way to get things done to get the win,” Tortorella said. “I’m really proud of our hockey club.”

It took a bit extra from everyone.

The absence of McNabb, a top pair defenseman who played just 3:16, put additional pressure on the rest of the group. Coghland and Ben Hutton in particular had to take on extended minutes.

“You don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “I didn’t see (the hit) if I’m being honest. We just hope Ryan is OK. But losing (McNabb), he’s one of the leaders if not the leader on the back end. It’s time for other players to step up and I thought (Hutton and Coghlan) did an unbelievable job today. They gave us really good minutes and were as steady as it comes. That’s what you need in the playoffs. When guys have opportunities, they need to step up.”

McNabb could be subject to additional discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety. The Knights should learn more about that possibility on Wednesday morning.