Hertl has not been ruled out for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA Sports). Pittsburgh leads the best-of-7 series 3-1 and would win the Stanley Cup with a victory.

PITTSBURGH -- San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl did not take part in practice at Consol Energy Center on Wednesday and remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

"Day-to-day," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said before having fun with a Czech Republic broadcaster's report earlier in the week that Hertl is done for the season. "In Czech, that means 'out for the season.' I've heard that means 'out for the season,' but I'm not a translator."

Hertl, a fixture on the Sharks top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton throughout the second half of the season and the playoffs, has missed the past two games after sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 2.

Video: SJS@PIT, Gm2: Hertl rings the iron three times

Hertl has six goals and 11 points in 20 postseason games.

Although Hertl did not skate, his equipment was hanging in a stall in the visitors locker room at the arena. The Sharks remain hopeful Hertl will return the lineup at some point in the series.

"We'll see how everything goes," Pavelski said. "Obviously, he is going to do everything he can to play. This is the time of year you want to be playing."

If Hertl does not dress Thursday, the Sharks would need to win Game 5 to extend their season and give Hertl an opportunity to return to the lineup. Game 6 would be in San Jose on Sunday.

"When you take yourself out of the lineup, you know how upset you would be, how you would wish that you could be in there and help the team win any way you could," San Jose defenseman Paul Martin said. "I obviously know how he is feeling and how bad he wants to be in and how tough it is for him to deal with it. It's tough."