NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and using crutches Friday, raising the possibility that he will not play Saturday in Nashville in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said the veteran has a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision against the Predators. Team captain Sidney Crosby said everybody is banged up at this time of year on both teams.
Bonino did not participate in the team's morning skate Saturday.
"I think everyone's prepared regardless of who's in,'' Crosby said. "Everyone's going to do whatever it takes to make sure they can play. And if not, then someone else who steps in is ready to take on that challenge.''
The Predators have been without their top center Ryan Johansen the past four games, and he won't be back until next season after needing emergency surgery for acute compartment syndrome in his left thigh.
Bonino plays on Pittsburgh's fourth line, but the veteran is a key penalty killer. He had a slap shot from Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban go off the inside of his left ankle in Pittsburgh's 4-1 win Wednesday night while on the ice helping kill a big penalty. Bonino went to the locker room but returned to finish the game.
He walked into the hotel where the Penguins are staying in Nashville using crutches, though he stopped and signed a couple autographs on his way in.
If Bonino can't play, Carl Hagelin could be an option for Sullivan after sitting out the first two games of this series.
"We have no qualms of putting a guy like Haggy in our lineup. We know he's a quality player. If he is a guy who is in the lineup tonight, we know he can help us win," Sullivan said Saturday. "He's got tons of speed. He's a really good penalty killer. I think he forces turnovers all over the ice because of his speed and his puck-pursuit game. Haggy's a good player. He's been a big part of this team all year."