WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton will miss seven to 10 days due to a concussion he suffered in a first-period fight with the Buffalo Sabres' John Scott on Thursday night, the team announced.

The 6-foot-8, 258-pound Scott and 6-2, 217-pound Thornton dropped the gloves just 2:53 into the first period of Thursday's 7-4 Bruins loss. Thornton took a number of fast and furious punches to the head and appeared to be dazed and wobbly as he headed to the penalty box.

After serving his 5-minute major for fighting, Thornton immediately headed to the Bruins' dressing room and did not return.

"It is tough," coach Claude Julien said. "Here's a guy who does everything for his teammates and his team, and has done it very well. Unfortunately, there's always a risk in that job. He took on a pretty big man, as we all know, 6-foot-8 and around 280 pounds. [Thornton] handled himself as best as he could, but those things are going to happen. At the end of the day, he was still willing to do it for his team."

Also missing from Friday's practice were Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Daniel Paille. Julien explained Bergeron and Krejci were given "maintenance days," but both would be in the lineup Saturday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.

Paille, however, suffered an upper-body injury when he took a high stick in the face late in the third period Thursday; he will remain in Boston this weekend.

"Obviously, we're going to deem it an upper-body injury, only for the reason right now we don't have all the details," Julien said. "We know he got the high stick, but once we get clarification on his injury, we'll let you know."

The Bruins recalled forward Jamie Tardif on Friday from AHL Providence to take Thornton's place. Tardif, 28, participated in the Bruins' practice at Ristuccia Arena and will make the trip with the team.

With Thornton and Paille out of the lineup, Julien said Tardif -- who leads the P-Bruins with 21 goals and nine assists in 39 games -- likely will make his NHL debut Saturday.