Injured Penguins forward Nick Bonino and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov each appear to be close to returning to the team’s lineup, starting with their regular season home finale Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Both players participated in a spirited practice session at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday in full-contact capacities and took part in rushes with the lines and defensive pairings.

Bonino has been sidelined since March 9 due to a lacerated kidney while Kulikov has been a scratch since March 12 due to a suspected left foot injury. Each player is currently designated to long-term injured reserve.

With regard to Tuesday’s game, Bonino’s status seems to be a bit more ambiguous than Kulikov’s.

“Right now, I’m cleared for these (practices),” Bonino said. “This was my first time with the full team (since the injury). As the week progresses, I’ve got to do some stuff with the doctors to decide that. But that’s what I was cleared for now. Hopefully, it’s games as the week goes on.”

Kulikov stopped just short of stating he’ll be in the lineup Tuesday.

“That’s been the plan with the doctors and me the whole time,” Kulikov said. “We looked at the schedule and we marked (Tuesday’s) game as a game that I can come back in. It’s feeling good. I’m feeling confident.”

The Penguins acquired both players at the trade deadline March 3 with Bonino, previously a member of the San Jose Sharks, being acquired in a three-team trade that involved the Montreal Canadiens. Kulikov was acquired directly from the Anaheim Ducks.

Neither player had the fortune of playing much for the Penguins following those transactions as they were quickly felled by injuries.

Bonino played in three games and had no points while averaging 9:50 of ice time per contest before he was injured.

“It was frustrating as it could have been,” Bonino said. “You leave your family (in California), come out (to Pittsburgh), excited to get here, play three games then effectively sit on a couch for two weeks with zero anything. You can’t do anything physical. Happy to be back, moving around, playing hockey again and looking forward to the future.”

Kulikov appeared in four games and recorded one assist while clocking an average of 12:40 of ice time per contest prior to his malady.

“It’s tough,” Kulikov said. “It’s unfortunate that this kind of injury happened. It’s a long time to sit and watch the team, not be able to help your teammates. That’s the tough part.”

Defenseman Marcus Pettersson also participated in the practice, though primarily operated as a reserve, rotating on a “fourth” defensive pairing with Mark Friedman and Chad Ruhwedel.

Sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury March 18, Pettersson is currently designated to long-term injured reserve and, per Cap Friendly, is not eligible to return to the lineup until the team’s regular season finale, a road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Forward Drew O’Connor, who was scratched due to an undisclosed injury during a 5-1 road win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, skated in a non-contact capacity Monday.

Notes:

• The team’s lines and pairs in practice were:

59 Jake Guentzel - 87 Sidney Crosby - 17 Bryan Rust

16 Jason Zucker - 71 Evgeni Malkin - 67 Rickard Rakell

43 Danton Heinen - 25 Ryan Poehling - 64 Mikael Granlund

13 Nick Bonino - 77 Jeff Carter - 15 Josh Archibald

8 Brian Dumoulin - 58 Kris Letang

73 P.O Joseph - 26 Jeff Petry

7 Dmitry Kulikov - 44 Jan Rutta

• The top power-play unit included Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Malkin and Rakell. The second unit involved Carter, Grandlund, Petry, Rust and Zucker.

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