Bruce Cassidy’s answer revealed the bitter truth about the reality Brad Marchand has built for himself as Boston’s beloved nuisance.

Marchand’s checkered past, whether it be as a harmless agitator or the aggressor on more dangerous hits, will always be the reference point for situations such as the one that unfolded in the first period of the Bruins’ 7-4 win Saturday against the Blackhawks.

A collision seemed inevitable between Marchand and Blackhawks forward Anthony Duclair 9 minutes and 45 seconds into the opening period. Marchand appeared to get out of the way, but made high contact with Duclair’s upper-body area. The result was an awkward fall for Duclair, who caught his skate in the ice and sustained a right knee injury that knocked him from the game.

“I don’t know,’’ Cassidy said when asked if the NHL’s Department of Player Safety will review the hit. “But to me, I expect they will because it’s Brad. But when I looked at the replay, it looked like two guys turning to get the hell away from each other. But it doesn’t matter, it’s what they’re going to see.’’

The most severe suspension of Marchand’s career was levied earlier in January when he received a five-game ban for an elbow hit he delivered to the head of Devils forward Marcus Johansson.

It wasn’t until last week that Johansson was able to return to the ice for practice.

Whether the NHL’s Department of Player safety reviews Saturday’s hit remains to be seen, but the key factor will be the determination of intent. The league has hardly ever punished a player for a hit deemed incidental, but that could be a situation where Marchand’s reputation comes into play.

“I was turning up ice, I think he was coming down to forecheck and we were both caught in the train tracks,’’ said Marchand, who had two assists in the win. “We just tried to avoid each other and it was really unfortunate. He twisted up his foot or something. That’s tough to see.’’

Asked whether he thinks the hit will be reviewed, Marchand said, “I don’t think so.’’

“We were trying to avoid each other,’’ he added. “When it happens, neither of us knows where it’s going to go. We were trying to get out of each other’s way and got tangled up. I think it’s pretty clear I was trying to get out of the way, he was trying to get out of the way.’’

An edgy track record has cost Marchand the benefit of the doubt in these types of situations. Had the collision occurred between Duclair and another Bruins skater, it likely would have been viewed as nothing more than an innocuous collision with an unfortunate outcome in a fast-paced, physical game.

Marchand was banned two games last April after he speared Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin, which marked the fifth time Marchand had been suspended. The sixth came this season stemming from the Johansson hit. Other instances include a five-game suspension for a low-bridge hit on Sami Salo in 2012 and two for slew-footing Derick Brassard in 2015. Marchand has also been fined three times for other hits.

“It was a dirty play,’’ Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson said. “I think Marchand sees him coming and I don’t know if he does it on purpose or not, but he gets stuck and Duclair gets his feet stuck in the ice. It looked pretty bad.’’

Considering that the Bruins have a quick turnaround for a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday in Chicago against the Blackhawks, any punishment from the league would have to come swiftly.

The Bruins already have played two games without David Backes, who’s serving a three-game suspension for a shoulder to the head of Detroit’s Frans Nielsen. Forward Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy remain out with injuries, and the potential loss of another top-flight player would compound an already shorthanded situation.

“Yeah, boy, I don’t even want to go there, to be honest with you,’’ Cassidy said at the thought of a potential Marchand suspension.

For now, the Bruins will have to wait and see which way the league decides to rule. Marchand’s reputation as a repeat offender always creeps to the forefront in these instances, but the Bruins are hoping he gets the benefit of the doubt.