Blue Jackets honor Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau before home opener

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets took the ice for their home opener against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Bush’s “Machinehead” blared from the loudspeakers. Spotlights danced in the stands and blinked around the circle at center ice. The sellout crowd of 18,484 roared.

But something was wrong. Someone was missing. The starting lineup did not have a left wing, leaving an empty space where Johnny Gaudreau should have been.

The puck dropped, and Nationwide Arena hushed. Columbus center Sean Monahan, who played with Gaudreau with the Calgary Flames from 2014-22 and took the face-off, tapped the puck to Florida center Sam Bennett, who played with Gaudreau in Calgary from 2015-21 and lined up at right wing. Bennett settled the puck in Gaudreau’s spot.

“As soon as that happened, I think it hit everybody,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “Hit me, because then you kind of visualize him standing there, right? I think it hit everybody when they did that. What a fantastic gesture.”

The teams stood still -- for 13 seconds officially to symbolize Gaudreau’s No. 13, for a little longer in reality. The fans rose to their feet and cheered as players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice and the boards. An official picked up the puck and brought it to the Columbus bench. The fans chanted, “JOHN-NY HOCK-EY!”

“It was hard, to be honest,” said Monahan, his voice shaking. “It was a special, special moment that I’ll remember forever.”

It was one of many emotional moments in honor of Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, who died Aug. 29 when they were riding bicycles near their home in Salem County, New Jersey, and struck by an alleged drunken driver who has been charged with two counts of death by auto. Johnny, Columbus’ leading scorer the past two seasons, was 31. Matthew, a former minor league forward, was 29.

Bennett said he thought of Johnny during his pregame meal. He and Johnny usually would be the last two on the Calgary team bus on the road. Johnny would eat Raisin Bran but pick out all the raisins.

“It ended up putting a little smile on my face,” Bennett said. “I have a million stories about Johnny, but that was one that I thought of today.”

Florida players walked into the arena carrying two of Johnny’s favorites -- Skittles and purple Gatorade -- an idea Bennett said came from forward Matthew Tkachuk, who played with Johnny with the Flames from 2016-22. Tkachuk did not play due to illness.

“Johnny was a huge part of the hockey community, but to me, he was much more than that,” Tkachuk said in a statement. “A great friend, teammate and family man. Not a day goes by without me thinking about Johnny and Matthew.”

Johnny’s image stretched alongside the front of Nationwide Arena as it did before, but with the Blue Jackets adding this in a black box: “JOHNNY GAUDREAU 1993-2024.” The makeshift memorial that once sat beneath it now sat in the concourse.

No. 13 was painted on the ice behind each net. Each team wore No. 13 Gaudreau jerseys during warmups, and many fans wore No. 13 jerseys in the stands. As the ice was resurfaced before the game, a projector turned it blue and displayed No. 13 and Matthew’s No. 21. The Blue Jackets played a slideshow of Johnny’s life and career.

The teams came out of their locker rooms, lined up on the goal lines and watched a video montage along with the fans. Johnny spoke about his life and career in his own words.

“I think when it’s all said and done,” he said, “I just want to be kind of remembered as a guy who just wanted to be around the rink, around his friends, around his family.”

The teams gathered in front of the benches and lined opposite sides of a blue carpet. Johnny’s wife, Meredith, and two young children -- son Johnny and daughter Noa -- walked out with his brother-in-law while other members of the Gaudreau family watched from a suite.

“It means a lot for his family, his wife, his kids, the way they honored him here,” Monahan said. “I mean, the whole League. The Florida Panthers behind the ceremony there, showing their support, yeah, it means a lot.”

The Blue Jackets raised a white banner with “JOHNNY GAUDREAU 1993-2024” and No. 13 in a blue circle as the fans clapped. The Gaudreaus left the ice, and the fans chanted, “JOHN-NY HOCK-EY!”

The teams lined up on the blue lines for the U.S. national anthem. Wearing a No. 13 toque, a No. 13 button and a Blue Jackets hoodie, Meredith said a few words in a video on the scoreboard screens.

“I don’t want anyone to be sad,” she said. “I want you all to be inspired by the life that John lived. That means love your family first and foremost, and when it’s time to drop the puck, let’s love the game that John loved.”

Then the puck dropped, and time stood still for those 13 seconds.

“That’s definitely got to be up there as one of the most emotional, powerful moments I’ve seen in my time playing hockey,” said Columbus forward James van Riemsdyk, a 16-year NHL veteran.

The teams coordinated with the NHL ahead of time. Florida coach Paul Maurice said the Panthers were honored to be a part of it.

“I don’t know the family, I don’t know the young man, but you feel the loss, right?” he said. “I’ve got two boys, so the thought of it terrifies you. How do you appropriately give back? Well, you play your role in this, and it is healing.”

Monahan scored at 11:22 of the second period, giving Columbus a 2-1 lead and pointing to Gaudreau's banner. In the end, the Blue Jackets lost to the defending Stanley Cup champions 4-3, but they fought to the finish with No. 13 patches on their jerseys. Evason said the players handled the situation exceptionally well and he was proud of them.

“I felt like Johnny was watching down on us today,” Monahan said, as Gaudreau’s jersey hung in the late forward’s stall nearby. “I had a feeling I was going to get one. Fortunately enough, I did. We lost, which [stinks]. But yeah, no, I definitely could feel John today."