Bruins News and Notes: 3/17

*With the boys taking Monday off it was not unexpected to see Claude Julien put the Bruins through one of their most competitive practices of the season today.

Patrice Bergeron thought that the hard practice was beneficial to the Bruins, saying, "That's what we need." "Claude wanted us to really make sure on putting the emphasis on being sharp and focused. We did that."

*Phil Kessel was given a maintenance day today. He was the only Bruin not to practice today.

Here were the lines at practice today.

P.J. Axelsson - Marc Savard - Blake Wheeler

Mark Recchi - Patrice Bergeron - Chuck Kobasew

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Michael Ryder

Shawn Thornton - Stephane Yelle - Byron Bitz

Zdeno Chara - Dennis Wideman

Andrew Ference - Steve Montador

Mark Stuart - Aaron Ward

Tim Thomas

Manny Fernandez

Shane Hnidy and Matt Hunwick were the two spare defensemen.

*On Friday, March 20 Bruins great Derek Sanderson will join fans for a "Rinkside Chat" online at BostonBruins.com from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Original Six: History of the Boston Bruins DVD launch party.

*During the DVD Launch Party on Tuesday, March 24, Bruins greats Ray Bourque, John Bucyk, Ferny Flaman, Cam Neely and Milt Schmidt as well as current Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will participate in a Question and Answer session with NESN commentators Andy Brickley and Gord Kluzak. This event will begin at 6 p.m.