Pittsburgh Penguins’ Nick Bonino week-to-week with lacerated kidney

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that center Nick Bonino will be week-to-week with a lacerated kidney.

Bonino suffered the injury during Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders after he was hit by a puck. While he didn’t leave the game, Bonino was complaining after the game and was sent to the hospital, where they discovered that he had a lacerated kidney.

“It’s hard. We were excited for him to be here,” said Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. “He’s a great guy and player – a great voice in the locker room. He will continue to be that for us. The prognosis is encouraging and he’s on the mend.”

Bonino was held pointless on Thursday’s game as the Penguins would lose 4-3 in overtime to the Islanders.

Bonino is having a bit of a down year with 10 goals, nine assists, and 19 points in 62 games, although it’s still relatively close to his regular production between 25 and 35 points. He’s been held pointless in all three of his 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 during their runs in 2016 and 2017.

The Penguins announced on Friday that winger Alex Nylander had been called up on an emergency loan in response to the injury. He had made his season debut earlier this week against the Columbus Blue Jackets where he had an assist. It was Nylander’s first NHL game since playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoff bubble in 2020.

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 that they gave up assets for. They are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 32-22-10 record, and have a two point lead on the Florida Panthers for the final wild card spot.