Thornton was subjected to a league hearing earlier Monday.
The hit occurred at the 16:54 mark in the second period of San Jose’s 6-3 loss at Las Vegas when Thornton appeared to blind-side check Nosek.
Thornton was assessed a two-minute penalty on the play, while Nosek returned in the third period.
“I honestly thought I barely touched him,” Thornton said after the game, via the Mercury News. “He just came right back; it was just one of those plays that it is what it is. I think my son hits me like that six times a day, it’s just a weird position to put himself in. That’s all.”
While Thornton doesn’t have a history of questionable hits or suspensions, the NHL doesn’t take hits to the head lightly, even with postseason implications at stake.
The Golden Knights hold a 2-1 series lead as they prepare to host the Sharks for Game 4 at 10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.
