Crosby late scratch for Penguins; Malkin injured

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins started their game Saturday without Sidney Crosby and finished it without Evgeni Malkin.

Crosby was a late scratch against the Boston Bruins at Consol Energy Center for unspecified reasons after participating in warm-ups. Malkin seemed to sustain a lower-body injury after colliding with Bruins forward Chris Kelly during his first shift.

Penguins coach Mike Johnston said he was notified Crosby was not feeling well and was seeing doctors minutes before the game.

"It's just he wasn't feeling well. That's the best way to describe it," Johnston said afterward. "So, it's not an injury. He didn't get himself injured in warm-up. He just wasn't feeling well and he went to see the doctors. I thought he was great at our meeting. He seemed to be fine, but somewhere between then and the end of warm-up when he came into the dressing room, he went to see the trainers and they said to see the doctors, and from there the decision was made that we were just going to keep him out."

Johnston said it is uncertain if Crosby or Malkin will be available against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, SN), but said the Penguins "think they might be able to play."

Forward Craig Adams replaced Crosby 7:18 into the first period. Because Crosby was in the submitted lineups, the change had to be made according to Rule 7.1, which states changes to starting lineups must be reviewed and approved by the referee prior to the start of the game.

Malkin returned to the Penguins bench midway through the first period but was absent to start the second after playing 4:15.