NHL warns Bruins’ Brad Marchand to stop licking opponents

In this May 2, 2018 photo, Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is escorted to the penalty box during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Boston. In this May 2, 2018 photo, Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is escorted to the penalty box during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Boston.

By Associated Press May 5, 2018 3 min read

The NHL has told Brad Marchand to stop licking opponents or the Boston Bruins forward will face punishment.

Senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell spoke to Marchand and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on Saturday about Marchand’s actions against Tampa Bay a night earlier. Marchand licked Lightning forward Ryan Callahan on the face during Game 4 of their second-round series after appearing to do the same to Toronto’s Leo Komarov earlier in the playoffs.

The league says Marchand has been put on notice that his actions are unacceptable and that similar behavior in the future will be dealt with through supplemental discipline. He could be fined or suspended by the NHL if he continues to lick players.

“All I’m going to say is there is absolutely no place in our game for that,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “I don’t get it, I don’t understand it. How would you feel if I walked over to you right now and gave you one big lick? Right from the chin all the way up. There’s just no place in the game for that.”

After the game, an overtime loss that put Boston down 3-1 in the series, Marchand said Callahan punched him in the face four times.