The play was not the thing, decidedly not the raison d’etre, Sunday afternoon on Garden ice. The Bruins and Canadiens met yet again, in what was the 6,898th regular-season game in Bruins history, and it was a celebration of the Black and Gold’s century-long legacy that framed the day on Causeway.

Boston did a phenomenal job with its year-long celebration, recognizing and honoring 100 years of Bruins hockey. It started with a 2-1 win over the Montreal Maroons on Dec. 1, 1924 and it culminated with Sunday’s victory.

The Bruins may not have won many Stanley Cups in their 100 years of existence, but they’ve almost always been compelling

The Bruins turn 100 Sunday and plan a centennial birthday party before their 3 p.m. game at the Garden against the Montreal Canadiens.

Ponti, 18, will be one of the debutantes at the annual high-society event, which aims to celebrate “excellence, the empowering of women and the harmony between débutantes and cavaliers from all over the world,