NHL warns Marchand of future discipline for 'unacceptable' actions

The NHL did, in fact, contact Brad Marchand to discuss his licking habit, and made it clear it won't be tolerated again.

Colin Campbell, the league's director of hockey operations, spoke with the Boston Bruins forward and his general manager, Don Sweeney, on Saturday, the league confirmed.

The NHL added that it put Marchand on notice that his actions Friday night - presumably referring to his lick of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan's face - were "unacceptable" and that similar behavior in the future will result in supplemental discipline.

Marchand licked Callahan's face after the Lightning winger shoved him twice in response to Marchand's low hit on him in the second period of Tampa Bay's Game 4 victory.