By being placed on long-term injured reserve, the forward, who is expected to be out four weeks, will be out a minimum of 24 days and 10 games.
DeBrusk, who was having one of his best seasons in the NHL while mostly playing alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, did not travel with the Bruins for their three-game road trip, which started Thursday with a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery praised DeBrusk after he scored two goals in the 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston, the first one after getting hit by a shot by defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. He scored the game-winner with 2:24 remaining in the third period.
"He's a lot tougher than people think," Montgomery said Monday regarding what he's learned about DeBrusk by coaching him. "And he's more committed than people are aware. And because of those things, his game is growing. He's matured and you can see it. He's on pace to get 30 goals, over 30 goals, and it doesn't matter where I use him, he seems to spark the people he plays with."
DeBrusk has 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 36 games, which had put him on pace for 32 goals. His NHL career high in goals came in his second season, when he scored 27 in 2018-19.
DeBrusk was spotted in a walking boot after the game Monday, though it was not discussed in his postgame press conference.
"He's been great for us, scoring big goals," Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort said Thursday. "We've got a pretty deep team, though, so I think we'll be all right."
David Pastrnak replaced DeBrusk on the top line, with Pavel Zacha switching to his off side to play right wing on the second line with Taylor Hall and David Krejci.
The Bruins on Thursday recalled forward
Chris Wagner
from Providence of the American Hockey League. Wagner has 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in 27 AHL games this season. He has played 359 NHL games, including 185 for the Bruins since 2018-19.
