The Boston Bruins made two roster moves Wednesday morning, recalling center Austin Czarnik and winger Seth Griffith from Providence on an emergency basis.
Czarnik and Griffith both joined the Bruins for practice in Wilmington, Mass.
#NHLBruins hitting the ice for practice at Ristuccia Arena. Czarnik, Griffith on the ice. pic.twitter.com/J6VU3O30GQ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 30, 2016
The 23-year-old forwards have put up gaudy numbers for the Providence Bruins this season, combining for 37 goals and 82 assists. Griffith is tied for second in the AHL with 67 points (including a league-best 45 assists) in 51 games, while Czarnik ranks third on the P-Bruins with 52 points (15 goals, 37 assists) in 59 contests in his first season as a pro.
This is Czarnick’s first first NHL call-up. Griffith, meanwhile, has 32 career games with the Bruins, including two this season. He tallied an assist in a Dec. 29 win over the Ottawa Senators and logged 10:59 of ice time in the Bruins’ Winter Classic loss to the Montreal Canadiens before returning to Providence.
The Bruins played Tuesday night’s game — a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils — without center Ryan Spooner, who suffered an undisclosed injury during Saturday’s win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Winger Brett Connolly was limited to just 3:17 of ice time Tuesday after sustaining an apparent knee injury during the first period.
Spooner, Connolly, center David Krejci and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg all were absent from Wednesday’s practice, according to the team. Defenseman John-Michael Liles returned to practice after missing the last two games with a lower body injury.
Practice groupings:
Beleskey—Griffith—Pastrnak
Marchand—Bergeron—Eriksson
Vatrano—Czarnik—Stempniak
Ferraro—Acciari—Hayes—Randell— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 30, 2016
John-Michael Liles back practicing with the team (missed two games with a lower-body injury). pic.twitter.com/XMOSARqLa3
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 30, 2016
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images