Brayden Point Benched for Missing Team Meeting Ahead of Bruins Game

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Lightning star Brayden Point will not suit up for Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Bruins after being named a healthy scratch for missing a team meeting. The 28-year-old forward has been a key player for the Lightning this season, appearing in 37 of 41 games and recording 25 goals and 22 assists.

Point’s absence comes amid a slight dip in production, with just two goals and three points in his last five games. Despite this, he remains one of the team’s top performers and was recently named to the Canadian National Team for the 2024 Nations Face-Off, where Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will serve as bench boss.

Replacing Point in the lineup is 22-year-old forward Jack Finley, who is set to make his NHL debut. Finley has two goals and four assists in 10 games with the AHL‘s Syracuse Crunch this season. The Lightning, currently third in the Atlantic Division with a 23-15-3 record and 49 points, are looking to maintain their playoff position, holding just a four-point lead over the Ottawa Senators.

Point, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning (2019-20 and 2020-21), has spent his entire nine-year NHL career with Tampa Bay after being drafted 79th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary native has been a cornerstone of the team’s success, but his benching underscores the organization’s emphasis on discipline and accountability.

The Lightning face a critical stretch in their season as they aim to secure a playoff spot in a competitive Atlantic Division. Tuesday’s game against the Bruins will test their depth and resilience without one of their top scorers.