Penguins forward Nick Bonino hospitalized with lacerated kidney

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino was hospitalized because of a lacerated kidney he suffered during a 4-3 home overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

According to coach Mike Sullivan, Bonino underwent a procedure on the injury and was scheduled to be released from the hospital Saturday.

Bonino will be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis per Sullivan.

“Nick Bonino got hurt in the game (Thursday),” Sullivan said. “He was complaining after the game, and we sent him to the hospital just to get things checked out. We found out he had a lacerated kidney. He had a procedure done. Right now, he’s week to week.”

It is unclear specifically how or when Bonino was injured. He was stuck by a puck midway through the second period of Thursday’s game and retreated to the dressing room for the remainder of the period before returning for the third period.

“It’s hard,” Sullivan said. “He’s a great guy. He’s a real good player. We were all excited to get him involved here for so many reasons. He’s a great voice in the locker room. He’ll continue to be that for us. He is on the mend and, hopefully, he’ll be sooner than later. I do think the prognosis is somewhat encouraging. So we’ll see where that goes. But we’re going to lose him here for a couple of weeks. We’ve got to make sure we take care of business and hope that we get him back in a timely fashion and he continues to bring to this team what we had hoped.”

The Penguins reacquired Bonino on March 3 in a three-way trade that involved his previous team, the San Jose Sharks, and the Montreal Canadiens.

Since that transaction, Bonino has appeared in three games with the Penguins and has no points while logging an average of 9 minutes, 50 seconds of ice time.

Primarily serving as a bottom-six forward and a penalty killer, Bonino has appeared in 62 games this season between the Penguins as well as the Sharks and has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) while clocking an average of 15:55 of ice time.

Bonino was a member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championship teams in 2016 and 2017 and spent most of the past six seasons with the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and Sharks before returning to the Penguins.

Notes:

• Per Sullivan, goaltender Casey DeSmith is scheduled to start Saturday’s home game against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

In 31 games this season, DeSmith has a 12-13-4 record, a 3.22 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

• With Bonino sidelined, forward Alex Nylander was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions Friday.

Recalled Tuesday, Nylander made his Penguins debut that day in a 5-4 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elevated from the third to the second line early in the contest, Nylander recorded an assist on a goal by forward Jason Zucker.

The eighth overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Nylander largely has struggled to establish himself as an NHLer throughout his professional career.

Presumably, with Bonino sidelined for a prolonged stretch, Nylander will have a fantastic opportunity to establish firm footing on the Penguins’ NHL roster.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Sullivan said. “Anytime you’ve got a chance to play in the NHL as a young player, it’s a great opportunity to establish yourself and help our team win. We believe that he can do that.”

• Sullivan indicated forward Ryan Poehling still is recuperating from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him for the past 12 games. Currently designated to long-term injured reserve, Poehling became eligible to return to the active roster Saturday.

• Sullivan has 399 career wins.

• The Flyers are expected to start goaltender Carter Hart. In 47 games this season, Hart has a 17-20-10 record, a 2.94 GAA, a .907 save percentage and one shutout.

• Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim has played in 399 career games and recorded 99 career assists.