NHL notebook: Prosecutors drop domestic violence charge against Boston’s Milan Lucic

Lucic, who is on leave from the Bruins, will not face charges after his wife refuses to testify against him.Prosecutors dismissed a domestic violence complaint against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic on Friday, citing his wife’s decision to assert marital privilege, which rendered it impossible to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bruins announced that he will not return from his leave of absence this season.

“Milan Lucic will be on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season,” the team announced in a statement. “The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation.”

After his wife declined to testify, prosecutors’ move to accept 911 call information into evidence was denied, effectively ending their court case, they said.

“Prosecutors frequently encounter situations like this when dealing with domestic violence cases. In a statement, James Borghesani, chief of communications for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, said, “We handled this case exactly as we would any other with a similar set of circumstances.”

A lawyer for Lucic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lucic, a member of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup winning squad, was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a family member. The maximum penalty is 2½ years in jail.

According to a Boston Police Department report, Lucic seemed inebriated when officers arrived at his North End residence early on November 18 after his wife complained that he attempted to choke her.

Brittany Lucic informed the responding officers that her husband had grabbed her hair but had not attempted to strangle her. She declined the offer of medical therapy.

He was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty. Lucic’s bond at the time barred him from abusing his wife or consuming alcohol.

For the first time in 119 days, the Bruins are looking up at someone else in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division.

The Bruins’ 4-1 loss to Seattle at TD Garden on Thursday, combined with Florida’s 4-0 victory over Buffalo, leaves both teams on 74 points. Because regulation wins are the first tiebreaker, Florida (35-15-4, 30 RWs) officially leads Boston (32-12-10, 26 RWs).

In the first round, the division champion will face a wild-card team, while the second-place team will play the division’s third-place team. If the season ended Thursday, the Bruins would play the Lightning in the playoffs.

The Vancouver Canucks have the NHL’s best record (37-12-6).

The Boston players stated that getting into the playoffs is their only goal.

“After last year, we don’t pay too much attention to that,” Brandon Carlo stated. “It is mainly about keeping playoff position. We aren’t particularly concerned with anyone else; we just want to improve our game. It’s excellent to have the opportunity to evaluate your competitors at the end of the year. It’s fun. That is hockey. But we’re simply focusing on our own game.”

David Pastrnak agreed.

“”We are definitely focused on ourselves here in the room,” he stated. “We have a home stretch with only a few games left. We need to win on Saturday and Monday to get back in the winners’ column. “Teams are breathing on our necks.”

RANGERS: Blake Wheeler’s regular season is gone due to a right leg injury sustained while falling to the ice. A long playoff run could pave the way for a possible return.

Wheeler went down in discomfort with his right leg bent at an unusual position 11 minutes into New York’s game against Montreal on Thursday night. He was unable to bear weight on that leg and required assistance going off the rink.

It’s unlikely he’ll be able to return in the playoffs, which begin on April 22, but the Rangers aren’t ruling it out if they advance far enough.