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.
Charlie Coyle also had two goals — one during the outburst — for the Bruins, who posted a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Maroons in their initial NHL game on Dec. 1, 1924, at the then-Boston Arena.
Cole Caufield scored twice for Montreal, which has lost four of five.
McAvoy scored on a wraparound at 11:45. David Pastrnak one-timed a shot from the right circle 55 seconds later. Coyle scored his first on a backhander 15 seconds later.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance as the Bruins closed a year of celebrating different eras during their first 100 years.
“It was a remarkable year, but this is a remarkable franchise — 100 years old,” he said between the opening two periods.
The Bruins were energized at the start, winning for the fourth time in six games since interim coach Joe Sacco took over for fired Jim Montgomery.
KEY MOMENT
With Hall of Famers Bobby Orr, Willie O’Ree, Ray Bourque and Johnny Bucyk leading a group of past and current players during an on-ice, pregame ceremony, Boston symbolically “closed the vault” on the previous 100 years.
“A 100 years! I’m 89,” O’Ree said before the game. “I’m just so proud to be a part of the Bruins’ family.”
Bourque said: “This being the final chapter, closing the book on 100 years, it’s just amazing the history and everything that’s happened in a hundred years for the Boston Bruins.”
BRUINS FANS
Bruins fans packed TD Garden Sunday, ready for the team to beat Montreal 100 years after their first NHL game (and victory) over the Montreal Maroons at Matthews Arena on Dec. 1, 1924.
“Here’s to another 100! We beat Montreal and we’re gonna keep beating Montreal,” said Cole Ewasiuk.
“Sorry, Canada you suck!” Katie from Brighton said.
Fans were happy with what they saw on the ice Sunday.
“Just the composure that we had all game yeah we got three goals scored on us, but we scored six,” Paddy Linehan said.
There was a lot of hype leading up to the milestone puck drop Sunday, including the pre-game ceremony that reflected on the history of the Original 6 franchise.
Legends from generations past and players of the future even stepped onto the ice and passed the puck around.
“The fact that we were able to be here and witness this moment of 100 years Boston Bruins hockey couldn’t get any better,” said Thomas from Bridgewater.
“It’s great to see everyone alumni people, Marchand’s on the team still. It’s crazy to see the legacy,” Matthew Kearns said.
Some fans say they felt someone was missing, however.
“I was surprised that I didn’t see [Zdeno] Chara there,” David Duffley said.
“We were looking for Chara and he wasn’t there, yeah surprised Chara wasn’t there,” Luigi and Janet Disisto said.
Still, Boston fans are feeling good about the B's as they turn the page to the next century -- complete with a new statue outside the Garden.
The Bruins unveiled a giant bear monument in Portal Park Saturday. The six foot tall, ten foot long statue weighs more than 3,500 pounds.
Who knows what the next 100 years hold, but one thing is for sure, the Montreal-Boston rivalry is alive and well.
“Go Bruins," 8-year-old Pharoah said.
“I’ve witnessed the rivalry over the years, he’s seeing it now and got a pregame puck flipped to him in the warmup. It was unreal,” said Steve Clark.
“Go Canadians,” said Gavin Clark, who is from New Brunswick.
The B's also had support from other Boston teams Sunday, including the Celtics and the Patriots.
Pats players like David Andrews and Drake Maye wore Bruins centennial jerseys as they showed up for Game Day at Gillette Stadium, where they faced off against the Indianapolis Colts.
Celtics guard Derrick White was also sporting the B's jersey as he arrived for Sunday's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here's to the next 100 years of B's hockey.
