Bettman: Marchand should've been penalized for punching Harrington

Gary Bettman says Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand should have been assessed a penalty for his sucker punch to the back of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington's head Tuesday night.

"That play should have been penalized," the NHL commissioner told Canadian lawmakers while testifying before a subcommittee on sports-related concussions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, according to TSN's Rick Westhead. "Sometimes things are missed on the ice. Our officials must have the most difficult job in sports."

Bettman told the panel that the NHL Department of Player Safety has warned Marchand about his behavior and that if it's repeated, "he should look forward to a suspension."

Marchand punched Harrington from behind after the whistle late in the Blue Jackets' Game 3 victory. He wasn't given a penalty and is reportedly expected to avoid a suspension and fine.

Last May, the NHL said it warned the talented Bruins pest that "similar behavior in the future will be dealt with by way of supplemental discipline" after he licked the face of then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov.

At Wednesday's testimony, Bettman once again refused to acknowledge a link between repeated brain trauma and CTE, a brain condition associated with repeated blows to the head.

The commissioner also said banning all hits to the head wouldn't be feasible if the NHL "is to be maintained as a physical contact sport."