from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,

Brad Marchand’s punch to the back of Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington’s head would be a minor incident for most players during the NHL playoffs.

Frustration. Tempers boiling over. Out of character. Slap on the wrist.

But this isn’t out of character for the Bruins forward. This is a player who can’t control himself. This is a player with a problem. In his career, he has been suspended six times for 19 games and fined three times. He has earned his reputation of being a dirty player. He knows he’s always under the microscope. He surely understands that the next suspension could be lengthy.

Plus, he’s in an important second-round playoff series. His team is trailing 2-1. He’s one of the three most important players on his team, the No. 5 scorer in the NHL.

The Bruins have spoken to him privately in the past. Coach Bruce Cassidy has said publicly the team needs Marchand, one of the league’s top left wings, to play more in control.

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See the punch below