The Blue Jackets honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau before the home opener

An official picked up the puck and brought it to the Columbus bench, and play continued.

The teams coordinated with the NHL in advance. 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, don’t you?” Maurice said. “I have two boys, so the thought scares you. How do you give back appropriately? Well, you play your part in it, and it’s healing.”

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, died Aug. 29 when they were pulled over by a suspected drunken driver who was charged with two counts of auto crash death. Johnny, Columbus’ leading scorer the past two seasons, and Matthew, a former minor league forward, were riding bikes near their home in Salem County, New Jersey.

Their presence was felt throughout Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

Johnny’s picture continued to stretch along the front of the building, and the Blue Jackets added the following in a black box: “JOHNNY GAUDREAU 1993-2024.” The makeshift memorial that once stood underneath was now in the concourse.

The number 13 was painted on the ice behind each net. Johnny’s stand remained in the locker room. His father, Guy, helped the coaches with their morning skates and told stories about his sons.

“It’s wonderful,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “It really is. It’s fantastic. Hopefully it’s good for Guy, but I know it’s good for our group. I know it’s good for our coaching staff to have him there and talk to him, and I know it’s great for the players too.”

Coaches wore patch No. 13 on their jackets during morning skates. Afterwards, the players wore hats with the same logo honoring the Gaudreaus that they wear on their helmets. They also wore “JOHNNY HOCKEY” t-shirts.

“We’re going to do little things throughout the year to keep reminding ourselves of the positive things,” Columbus forward Cole Sillinger said.

Bennett thought about Johnny as he ate his pregame meal. He said he and Johnny are usually the last two on the road on the Calgary team bus. Johnny would eat Raisin Bran, but he would pick all the raisins.

“It put a little smile on my face at the end,” Bennett said.

Florida players entered the rink with two of Johnny’s favorites – Skittles and purple Gatorade – an idea that came from forward Matthew Tkachuk, who played with Johnny on the Flames from 2016 to 2022. Tkachuk was unable to be in Columbus 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 released by the Panthers. “A great friend, teammate and family man. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Johnny and Matthew.”

The Blue Jackets wore the No. 13 patch on their uniforms during the game.

“There were ups and downs, good days, bad days, emotional days,” Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski said. “I feel like we’ve been through this all together, conversations in here, away from the rink, whatever it is, stories shared, pictures, all that stuff. “I think the last month and a half has been real good to be with these guys and grieve together. I think tonight is another step in that process.”