LAS VEGAS — On Thursday night, Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb sat in a hospital room in Raleigh, N.C., bloodied and battered as doctors stitched his nose back together, wondering if his Stanley Cup Final was over.On Saturday night, peering through a metal cage fastened to his helmet, McNabb was a star for the Golden Knights as they won one of the most dramatic games in recent NHL history. Vegas blew a four-goal lead in the third period, only to win 5-4 in a double overtime marathon to take a 2-1 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes.Less than 48 hours removed from eating an 87-mile-per-hour slap shot that sent him to a hospital room three time zones away, McNabb registered a career-high 35 minutes and 47 seconds of ice time and assisted on two goals to help lead his team to victory.“I heard the players yelling ‘warrior,’ but he’s more than that,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “I’m just blown away by how he’s gone about his business.”McNabb was hit in the face by a blistering shot by Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers in the first period of Game 2. He dropped to the ice, then quickly popped up and rushed to the dressing room, holding his face as blood dripped through his gloves.“It was not ideal for sure, but it’s part of hockey,” McNabb said nonchalantly. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. It’s unfortunate, but I was able to get through it.”‘Not ideal’ isn’t how most would describe it, but McNabb’s businesslike approach never wavers. He received between 20 and 30 stitches. It wasn’t clear whether he would play in the game as late as Saturday morning.“When I was at the hospital, there was some doubt for sure,” he explained. “Waking up, I felt OK, and I knew I would have a chance.”He strolled into T-Mobile Arena hours before puck drop, dressed in a dapper suit with a cup of coffee in hand. It was far too casual for a man who just had his nose sewn back together, but that’s McNabb to a tee.“I don’t think you can say enough good things about him,” Vegas forward Jack Eichel said. “His courage, heart. They don’t make a lot of people like him anymore. He’s just such a selfless human being. So much guts. I could sit here and talk about him forever.”