![Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four. [Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//J15TODBahyfl2JPDOn2R7nksE6o=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/tbt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27002018/GYI_775151783_948871528.jpg "Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four. [Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images]")
NHL officials called the Bruins after Game 1 of their first-round series against the Maple Leafs and asked them to tell wing Brad Marchand to quit licking opponents, Canada's Sportsnet reported Thursday.
During the game, Marchand pressed his mouth to the neck of Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov and appeared to lick him during a stoppage near the benches. It was an attempt by Marchand to disrupt Komarov's game.
The Bruins, who take on the Lightning in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning Saturday, could not be reached for comment by the Boston Globe.
After Game 1, Marchand was asked by a reporter, "What is it about Komarov that makes you want to cuddle with him?''
"He keeps trying to get close to me,'' Marchand replied, smiling wryly. "So I don't know if he has a thing for me or what. But he's cute.''
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/6134c853-0bb8-4c71-8bdf-5e018c23fe34.png "Sharon Fink - News Editor")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2O43RSW6LRFQDCJAX6Q54ADAEM.png "1 person dead after Tampa residential fire")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EKETMQOYNZGFFGLZWOKYXPD5DE.JPG "Rays put their trust in Erik Neander to make the right moves")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y7IYF4LIETIJ7DR4XYJPLCHMZY.jpg "Florida Senate president unveils plan to expand health care access, add doctors")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EPVEAE3KCJBR3FTAE4RJYBZ554.jpg "St. Petersburg police officer arrested on battery charge in Hillsborough")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NZR2TMBKBFA7RONBSP76M64VV4.JPG "Clearwater Central Catholic faces familiar outcome in state title game")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HFXQ4MFEWVHHTNWXQ2EVNZABBA.JPG "Tampa police make 3rd arrest in Ybor City shootings")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5BZZPW6AMRF25DYCG4PJXYRLYI.jp "Pasco County and New Port Richey team up to fix blighted area")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QHQ5FVJLLBFPPHM2IKCJHAP3OU "The coach of the year case for FSU football’s Norvell, USF’s Golesh")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/R5QRGPUEN5D7DCD72WAQPXEJSY.jpg "Case of Bloomingdale High girl, 15, killed at Halloween party is cold. Cops seek help.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3XYC47NB2JKRV364V23EAKMGCI.jpg "Florida Gators star Trevor Etienne to enter NCAA transfer portal")