The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that center Nick Bonino will be out week after week with a lacerated kidney.
Bonino was injured in Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders after being hit by a puck. While he did not leave the game, Bonino complained after the game and was sent to hospital, where they discovered he had a lacerated kidney.
« It’s tough. We were thrilled he was here, » Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. « He’s a great guy and player – great voice in the locker room. He will continue to be that for us. The prognosis is encouraging and he is on the mend.
Bonino was deemed unnecessary in Thursday’s game as the Penguins would lose 4-3 in overtime to the Islanders.
Bonino is having a slightly worse year with 10 goals, nine assists and 19 points in 62 games, although he is still relatively close to his regular output between 25 and 35 points. He’s been deemed useless in his three games so far since joining the Penguins at the trade deadline. It’s his second stint in Pittsburgh, as he helped them win two Stanley Cups in their runs in 2016 and 2017.
The Penguins announced Friday that winger Alex Nylander has been called up on an emergency loan in response to the injury. He made his season debut earlier this week against the Columbus Blue Jackets where he picked up an assist. It was Nylander’s first NHL game since playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 playoff bubble.
Bonino’s injury will certainly hurt a Pens team looking to make a playoff push, especially since he was a new addition to the team they traded assets for. They are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 32-22-10 record and have a two-point lead over the Florida Panthers for the final wildcard spot.
