Just two days after an 87-mph one-timer struck him above the nose, Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was back on the ice for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, playing 35:47 — second among all Vegas skaters — and recording two assists, including the primary helper on Shea Theodore’s double-overtime game-winner.

The 35-year-old “Original Misfit” drew a thunderous ovation when introduced in the starting lineup Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, wearing a full face cage to protect the injury. The Knights won 5-4 to take a 2-1 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes.

“It felt pretty good,” McNabb said. “I felt my partner (Theodore) helped me out a lot. Felt pretty good for the most part. The cage was different, getting used to that was a little bit (different) but for the most part felt OK, especially felt better as the game went on.”

McNabb left in the first period of Game 2 after the puck hit him just above the nose. He was taken to a local medical facility and did not return to the 4-3 overtime loss.

“I mean, at one point when it happened,” McNabb said when asked if he doubted he would play. “When I was at the hospital, yeah, for sure. But waking up, felt OK, and then I knew I would have a chance.”

McNabb is the Knights’ all-time leader in regular-season games played (647) and third in playoff games (116). He had played 298 consecutive games before an upper-body injury in January.

Game 4 is Tuesday.