Brad Marchand Doubtful Against Thrashers, Says Absence Due to ‘Lingering Soreness’ From P.K. Subban Hit

BOSTON — After two days of intense practices, the Bruins scrapped their morning skate on Thursday, choosing instead to get some extra rest and off-ice work to prepare for the night’s clash with Atlanta.

But forward Brad Marchand did take to the ice, skating with defenseman Mark Stuart at the Garden.

Stuart remains out with a broken hand, while Marchand is battling an undisclosed injury. Thursday was his first time on skates since leaving midway through Saturday’s game against Washington. He did not play Monday against Anaheim and did not participate in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’m feeling better,” Marchand said after his workout. “I skated for the first time out there, and I’m feeling better every day.

“I just wanted to see how I felt when skating around,” Marchand added. “I was a little sore there last game, so I wanted to see how I felt, and I felt pretty good. I didn’t push myself all the way, but as far as it went out there, I felt fine.”

Marchand was hopeful he has improved enough to be in the lineup against Atlanta, but that remains unlikely.

“I have to talk to [head coach] Claude [Julien],” Marchand said. “I think we’re going to talk here soon, and we’ll see how it goes from there. It’s coach’s decision, but I feel good, so we’ll see.”

Julien was far less optimistic, however, when asked about the possibility of Marchand playing on Thursday.

“Probably doubtful,” Julien said on Thursday morning. “He just started skating today for the first time, and I don’t think he’s 100 percent, so very doubtful.”

If Marchand remains out, Daniel Paille will play on the fourth line with Shawn Thornton and Greg Campbell again.

Marchand’s exact injury remains a mystery, with neither the team nor the player shedding much light on what is wrong, other than Marchand denying it was a head injury.

“I was just a little sore,” Marchand said. “My body was sore, and it was affecting my game, so I figured it was best for the team if I pulled myself from the game.”

Julien stated on Monday that Marchand was injured on a hit in the Washington game, but on Thursday, Marchand revealed that the injury initially occurred when he was belted with a huge open-ice hit by Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban in Montreal last Thursday.

“I think it was effects from the Subban hit,” Marchand said. “It was just kind of lingering soreness from that. I took a couple little hits in the Washington game, and I started feeling it, so I figured it was best to rest it up.”