Bruins scratch DeBrusk for being late to team meeting

Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk is a healthy scratch Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings as punishment for being late to a team meeting, head coach Jim Montgomery announced.

DeBrusk is coming off his best season in which he tallied 27 goals and 23 assists in 64 games, but he's been held off the scoresheet in three games in 2023-24.

The 27-year-old is in a pivotal year, as he's set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Veteran power forward Milan Lucic skated in DeBrusk's place at left wing on the top line with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak during Saturday's morning skate. Journeyman Patrick Brown appears poised to make his season debut on the fourth line.