Marchand denies being told to stop licking other players

There doesn't appear to be anything tongue-in-cheek about Brad Marchand's response to reports that he was asked to stop licking opposing players.

The talented Boston Bruins pest replied with denials Friday to a couple of tweets documenting the NHL's request.

Marchand later texted NBC Sports Boston's Joe Haggerty with an even more fervent denial and an eyebrow-raising accusation.

"No one said anything to me," Marchand wrote to Haggerty. "If they are worried about that, the league has much bigger issues. If they call, it's a perfect example of the Toronto media controlling the league."

On Thursday night, an NHL spokesman confirmed to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that the league demanded Marchand not repeat his apparent lick of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov's neck in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.