Bigger Than The Game: Gaudreau Family Honoured In Calgary

The actual game between the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets was secondary. There aren't many nights in the NHL that can be said with certainty.

But culminating the Gaudreau family's visit to their second home in Calgary, Flames fans had the opportunity to honour Johnny Gaudreau, his wife, children, parents and sisters during a pre-game tribute video and puck drop that featured an emotional Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund and a special puck that was handed to Johnny's wife Meredith.

It's been a few months since the world began grieving when the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were cut short in a tragic accident in New Jersey. The emotions are still raw for both teams — the only two Gaudreau ever played for in the NHL — and it was evident during the night.

On the Flames' 13th home game of the season, with the Blue Jackets visiting, players on both sides wore Johnny's No. 13 jersey for warmups (which the Flames are auctioning off for the charity of the Gaudreau family's choice). Before the national anthems, the teams watch a touching video tribute set to George Canyon's slowed-down and sombre version of Chuck Berry's Johnny B Goode — which was also Gaudreau's goal song in Calgary.

Before the official puck drop, the entirety of Gaudreau's family took part in the ceremonial one. Meredith, Jane and Guy Gaudreau, sisters Katie and Kristen and Johnny's kids Noa and Johnny Jr. were surrounded by the players from both teams, showing unified support.

Then the fans got the chance to pay their respects with a rousing standing ovation in honour of the Gaudreau brothers and the family that travelled all the way back to Calgary to participate in the Flames' ceremony.

It was the loudest the rink got all night.

That includes the Flames goals by Rasmus Andersson, who pointed to the sky in a reserved celebration of the shot that gave Calgary a 1-0 lead on a powerplay midway through the first period.

The goal was almost a relief for a player who was one of Gaudreau's best friends on the Flames squad. They were together for Andrew Mangiapane's wedding this summer, not long before Johnny's passing, and Andersson has been visibly engaged in being there for Guy Gaudreau as he participated in practices ahead of Tuesday's game.

Unlike the game in Columbus last Friday, which was full of emotion and physicality, the rematch in Calgary felt emotionally drained. The weight of the loss the two teams have shared made it that way.

But on this night, what happened on the ice before the contest was all that mattered.

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