The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings made sure that the late Johnny Gaudreau was well-remembered during Saturday’s NHL Stadium Series game at Ohio Stadium.
And continuing this season’s pattern, the Blue Jackets used the memory of Gaudreau to pull off another key win that helps them with their surprising run toward a possible playoff spot.
Columbus won 5-3 in their first outdoor appearance despite being outshot 46-21. Dmitri Voronkov and Mathieu Olivier scored 23 seconds apart in the second period to give the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead. Justin Danforth then scored a little more than a minute after Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat had tied it 3-3 late in the third period with his second goal of the game.
The Blue Jackets moved past the Red Wings for sole possession of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Few around the NHL had expected that type of performance from the Blue Jackets this season after Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Aug. 29 when they were hit by a car while riding their bikes in New Jersey.
A look at the tributes to the Gaudreau family during the game:
Blue Jackets, Red Wings pay tributes to Gaudreau family
NHL players always pick a team outfit theme to enter the stadium for outdoor games. This game was about the Gaudreaus.
The Gaudreau family, including Johnny’s widow Meredith, led Blue Jackets players toward the stadium complex. Players wore Avalon hoodies, sweatpants and a hat with three stars, just like ‘Johnny Hockey’ used to wear to the rink.
Detroit players wore various jerseys that the Gaudreaus had worn during their careers. They included Boston College, where both brothers played, and Team USA, which Johnny represented multiple times.
The Gaudreau family later led the Blue Jackets players onto the field.
During the game, a giant Gaudreau No. 13 banner was passed around the stadium by fans.
‘It’s just so cool to see everything Columbus has done and everything Detroit is doing in his honor,’ Meredith Gaudreau said during an interview with ESPN. ‘It’s really, really touching.’
There has been a season-long tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. The Blue Jackets keep his jersey in their dressing room, and so did Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Honorary captain and ‘Miracle on Ice’ hero Mike Eruzione wore the jersey on the ice before the championship game against Canada.
The Calgary Flames, who Gaudreau played for before he signed with Columbus, held a pregame ceremony in December.
The family’s father, Guy, has helped out at Philadelphia Flyers practices and was included in the USA’s 4 Nations team photo.
‘These moments help me,’ Meredith said. ‘It’s so nice to see. It’s nice to be a part of and have our whole family be a part of it.’
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
