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CBJ PG3 v Florida Panthers — Perfect Tribute |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets fall victim in their home opener to the visiting injured Florida Panthers by the final score of 4-3 in regulation. The club also lost Erik Gudbranson in the game as well against the team that drafted him third overall in 2010.
This game was the home opener for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and was their tribute event to honor the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in front of the Fifth Line and entire league. This franchise went above and beyond any personal expectations, and no eyes were dry during the course of the visual and emotional presentation executed by the franchise.
Tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
All players of the Florida Panthers entered and walked into the Nationwide Arena holding a bag of Skittles and bottle or purple Gatorade. This was requested by Matthew Tkachuk, who was not in Columbus due to illness, but was passed along to the players by Sam Bennett. Bennett and Tkachuk were both teammates with Gaudreau, Gudbranson, and Monahan in Calgary.
Both clubs hit the ice in warmups with all players wearing the #13 to honor Johnny Gaudreau as fans were arriving to their seats while passing the #13 and #21 memorial in the NWA concourse.
Tribute video from Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau plays that covers the life, hockey player, family man, husband, and hero that is Johnny Gaudreau.
Select members of the Gaudreau family walked on the Union Blue carpet, including widow Meredith Gaudreau accompanied by children Johnny Jr. and Noa; Guy and Jane Gaudreau; sisters Kristin and Katie; and brother in law Eddie were welcomed on the ice by roars from the fans and all players from both teams by stick taps.
Sean Monahan holds Johnny Jr. Meredith holds Noa. The banner to honor Johnny Gaudreau is raised the highest in the building with the 13 patch and his life with the Blue Jackets’ logo to the rafters.
Fans cheer and thank Gaudreau family while camera pans to emotional group on the ice and players weeping (Ivan Provorov and Sam Reinhart isolated).
Sam Bennett and Adam Boqvist hug Meredith before they depart while she waves to the crowd.
Erik Gubdranson hugs the widow as the crowd erupts with “JOHN-NY HOC-KEY CHANTS!”
Period I
Columbus opened the lineup with four skaters. Sean Monahan, Cole Sillinger, Erik Gudbranson, and Zach Werenski. The left wing slot was left vacant for Johnny Gaudreau.
The Panthers started with their current five. Monahan lost the draw to Evan Rodrigues, who touched it over to Bennett. They stood still for 13 seconds to let the crowd stand up and roar one last time with “JOHN-NY HOC-KEY CHANTS!”
Camera over Dean Evason and Columbus and Florida benches emotionally accepting the fanfare.
No scoring happened. Closest either team got was Sean Monahan early on Spencer Knight.
Period II
The second period welcomed five goals in the game.
The Blue Jackets got the scoring first with 41 seconds shaved off the clock. Standing still was the Florida defense on the powerplay. Kent Johnson backhand sauced a breakout pass to Cole Sillinger, who beat Spencer Knight glove side.
Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson both had points on the road and home openers for the Blue Jackets.
Sillinger’s first goal of the regular season counts as his 33rd over his career. KJ had the lone assist.
Three goals in 94 seconds come together to bring the game back to 2-2.
Anton Lundell rebounded the puck past Elvis Merzlikins for his third of the season. Sam Reinhart got the primary assist. Nate Schmidt earned his first point as a Panther.
Sean Monahan saluted Johnny Gaudreau to get the go ahead goal. Monahan’s second of the season was a self rebound on Knight. Line-mates Yegor Chinakov and Kirill Marchenko had the helpers.
Dmitry Kulikov tied the game for his first of the year from Nikko Mikkola and Lundell.
Florida got the go ahead goal with one second remaining. Sam Reinhart potted his fourth of the year from Carter Verhaehge and Sam Bennett.
Period III
Eetu Lustorainen got the go ahead goal with his second of the year on a top shelf shot. Reinhart and Mikkola had the assists.
With the extra attacker, the home team pulled the lead within one as James van Riemsdyk got his first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets in his usual spot - around the net. JvR got the deflected shot from Damon Severson. Kevin Labanc recorded the secondary assist.
Goalies
Spencer Knight had 35 saves on 38 shots for a 0.921 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins gave up 4 goals on 22 shots for a 0.818 save percentage.
Players to Watch
Florida — Sam Reinhart — the forward had three points, a goal and 2 assists. His stardom is continuing to blossom.
Columbus — Jordan Harris — the defender was quiet in his debut. He had a shot; block; and minor penalty.
CBJ 3 Stars of the Game
1. Sean Monahan — goal (2)
2. Cole Sillinger — SHG (1), first goal scored at home 24-25 season
3. James van Riemsdyk — first goal as a CBJ
Next game: Thursday (tomorrow) the 16th against Buffalo at home. Halfway marker of their homestand.
More is coming…
Obituaries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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