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 team’s rich history has been saluted during a year of special events and signature game nights. On Saturday, a slap shot from the arena, the Bruins’ Centennial Legacy bear monument was unveiled, a 3,500-pound bronze colossus that was created to reflect the spirit and resolve of the team and the city it calls home.

Boston’s Centennial Game ceremony took place on the TD Garden ice more than an hour ahead of puck drop between the Bruins and Canadiens — with decades of spirited scraps, hockey legends, and iconic plays chronicled in the extended celebration of the oldest U.S.-based club in the NHL.

Charlie McAvoy scored two goals — one coming when Boston scored three times in 70 seconds during the opening period — and the Bruins celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first NHL game with a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.