According to reports, Sidney Crosby suffered an undisclosed ailment during pregame warm-ups and was a last-minute scratch before the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2-0 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
According to the NHL situation room, Crosby took warm-ups but determined he could not play and was replaced by Craig Adams. Since Crosby was in the previously submitted starting lineup, this change had to be made according to Rule 7.1, which states that changes to the starting lineup must be reviewed and approved by the referee prior to the start of the game.
Proper procedure was followed by the Penguins and Adams entered the game.
After the game, Penguins coach Mike Johnston explained he was heading out to the bench for the start of the game when he was told Crosby was not feeling well and was being tended to by doctors. A decision was made to scratch him in order for Johnson to make the lineup change.
"I would say it's not an injury," Johnston said. "He didn't get himself injured in the warm-up. He just wasn't feeling well and went to see the doctors."
Not only was Crosby sidelined, but the Penguins' Evgeni Malkin also suffered an injury during his first shift of the game. The Bruins' Chris Kelly made body contact with Malkin as he fell to the ice and remained there for a moment. A trainer tended to Malkin, who then skated off on his own and went directly to the locker room.
Malkin attempted to return midway through the first period but was not able to finish the game.
Johnston did not specify the nature of Malkin's injury, but he said Malkin and Crosby "might be able to play" against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.