Julien scratches Beleskey from Bruins' lineup: 'We need better'

Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien is not liking what he sees from Matt Beleskey so far this season.

As a result, the winger will sit Thursday's game in Tampa Bay in favor of Sean Kuraly, who will make his NHL debut.

"Right now, we need better from (Beleskey) and we've done everything we can to help him out there," head coach Claude Julien said, per the team's official website. "So right now, I feel it's not a bad thing to take a step back and watch a game and hopefully regroup in his mind and come back with the intentions of being in there every night."

Beleskey has failed to record a point in nine games, and to make matters worse, he's has only fired 12 shots on goal, while linemates Riley Nash and Jimmy Hayes also have yet to record a point.

Beleskey is in the second season of a five-year, $19-million contract signed in 2015. He recorded 15 goals and 22 assists in 80 games last season.