The Vegas Golden Knights' defensive depth took a major hit just nine minutes into Tuesday night's pivotal Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks. Longtime blueliner Brayden McNabb was ejected after receiving a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a controversial hit that left Ducks forward Ryan Poehling visibly shaken.

The play unfolded quickly in the opening frame. As the puck left Poehling's vicinity, McNabb delivered a forceful check that sent the Ducks forward crashing hard into the boards. The impact left Poehling struggling to rise, eventually rolling onto his back as a trainer rushed to his side. With considerable assistance from defensemen John Carlson and Jacob Trouba, Poehling managed to get to his feet and skate off the ice, heading straight to the locker room.

For McNabb, a Golden Knights staple since their inaugural 2017-18 season, this ejection adds an extra layer of tension to an already heated playoff series. The veteran defenseman is known for his physical style, but this time the hit was deemed interference—coming well after the puck had left the area.

With McNabb out, the Golden Knights are now forced to navigate the rest of Game 5 with just five defensemen—a tall order against a relentless Ducks squad. Anaheim wasted no time capitalizing, as Beckett Sennecke scored during the extended power play to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

As of now, there's no official word on Poehling's condition, leaving both teams and fans anxiously awaiting updates. One thing is certain: this series just got a whole lot more intense.