The licking habits of Boston Bruins left winger Brad Marchand are about to change after coach Bruce Cassidy ordered him to stop using his tongue on the faces of opposing players.
Cassidy told reporters prior to Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning that he met with Marchand on Saturday shortly after the 29-year-old had met with NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.
READ MORE: Stop licking opponents, NHL tells Bruins’ forward Brad Marchand
“I saw the directive from the league,” Cassidy said. “I talked to Marchy about it (and said), ‘That’s what the league’s asked for and we need you on the ice, we need you playing.’ So zip it, or whatever term you used.”
Marchand has been employing the unique tactic as a way to get under the skin of opposing players and resorted to it again in Friday’s Game 4 after Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan shoved his face.
Cassidy understands that Marchand is attempting to agitate opponents but would prefer him to focus on hockey.
READ MORE: Bruins’ Brad Marchand licks another opponent, this time he gets Lightning’s Ryan Callahan
“If part of his M.O. is to annoy people, find another way to do it,” Cassidy said. “That’s basically what’s in front of him now. … Preferably by scoring some goals, that would be the best way probably.”
Tampa Bay leads the series 3-1. Marchand has a goal and seven assists in the series.
READ MORE: Brad Marchand says NHL hasn’t asked him to stop licking opponents
Marchand began making headlines in the first round for licking the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Leo Komarov.
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