Boston, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today, March 22, that the club has recalled defenseman Matt Bartkowski from the Providence Bruins (AHL) on an emergency basis.  Bartkowski will join the Boston Bruins in Toronto in advance of their game against the Maple Leafs on Saturday, March 23.

In 56 games for the Providence Bruins this year, Bartkowski has registered three goals and 21 assists for 24 points with 56 penalty minutes. The blueliner’s 21 assists are ranked second among defensemen and fifth overall on the P-Bruins.

Bartkowski has skated in a total of 156 AHL games with the Providence Bruins and has notched 12 goals and 58 assists during that span. In his NHL career, the defenseman has skated in nine NHL games with Boston.

The 6’1’’, 196-pound native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round (190th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Bruins acquired Bartkowski and Dennis Seidenberg in exchange for Byron Bitz, Craig Weller and Tampa Bay’s 2010 second round draft pick from the Florida Panthers on March 3, 2010.