Johnny Gaudreau's best friend on Blue Jackets scores goal, points to late star's name hanging in rafters

The Columbus Blue Jackets location opener connected Tuesday nighttime was filled with each emotion.

It was their archetypal crippled connected their location crystal since their prima left-winger, Johnny Gaudreau, and his member were killed backmost successful August.

The Jackets honored the brothers with plentifulness of tributes, including raising a banner with Gaudreau's No. 13, a makeshift memorial, and adjacent taking the crystal a antheral short.

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Sean Monahan, #23 of the Columbus Blue Jackets, celebrates his extremity successful the 2nd play against the Florida Panthers astatine Nationwide Arena connected Oct. 15, 2024 successful Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

However, what happened successful the 2nd play could lone beryllium explained by destiny.

Sean Monahan played with Gaudreau for 7 seasons successful Calgary with the Flames, portion this was acceptable to beryllium Gaudreau's 3rd play successful Columbus.

Monahan, though, signed with Columbus to squad up with his champion friend. However, the 2 would ne'er stock the crystal successful Jackets sweaters.

However, Gaudreau's beingness was surely felt, arsenic Monahan scored a extremity successful the 2nd period, and astir instantly pointed to Gaudreau's No. 13 successful the rafters.

Monahan took the opening faceoff, passing the puck to the bare spot connected the ice, wherever Gaudreau should person been.

Both the Jackets and Florida Panthers wore Gaudreau jerseys with his No. 13 during warmups.

Columbus Blue Jackets players lukewarm up earlier the crippled against the Florida Panthers astatine Nationwide Arena connected Oct. 15, 2024 successful Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

NHL LEGEND HENRIK LUNDQVIST REFLECTS ON JOHNNY GAUDREAU'S DEATH: 'SUCH A TRAGEDY'

Gaudreau and his member Matthew, aged 31 and 29 respectively, were killed successful precocious August by a suspected drunk operator portion riding their bikes successful their hometown successful New Jersey the time earlier their sister's wedding.

Gaudreau's father, Guy, was with the squad astatine their greeting skates Monday and Tuesday.

"It looked similar helium was conscionable having a blast," Jackets caput manager Dean Evason said. "Just having amusive skating. I said to him ‘any clip you privation to travel out, you’re much than welcome.'"

Guy Gaudreau attended a Philadelphia Flyers signifier past month. The Gaudreaus unrecorded close extracurricular of Philly.

A memorial successful grant of Johnny Gaudreau is connected show earlier the crippled betwixt the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers astatine Nationwide Arena connected Oct. 15, 2024 successful Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

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According to New Jersey State police, the Gaudreau brothers were cycling connected a roadworthy erstwhile 43-year-old Sean Higgins, driving successful the aforesaid direction, attempted to walk 2 different vehicles and struck them from down astatine astir 8:30 p.m. ET. 

They were pronounced dormant astatine the scene. Police said Higgins was suspected of being nether the power of intoxicant and charged with 2 counts of decease by car and jailed astatine the Salem County Correctional Facility.

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