One of the NHL's newest rivalries is certainly reaching fever pitch after San Jose Sharks veteran Joe Thornton delivered an uncharacteristically questionable hit on Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek.
Nosek attempted to corral a loose puck in his own end with his head down and didn't see Thornton coming. A split-second after Nosek got rid of the puck, Thornton skated by and delivered a crushing shot to Nosek's head, earning a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head.
Although Nosek returned to the game without further incident , it's possible the NHL Department of Player Safety will take an extended look at Thornton's hit, especially given the tenor of the playoffs to date.
Vegas defeated San Jose in the second round of the 2017-18 playoffs, before losing to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Finals during their impressive inaugural season. It's only been two years, but even this level of familiarity seems to breed contempt.
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