With an emotional and symbolic game now behind them on the NHL schedule, the Calgary Flames want to continue the kind of play at the Saddledome that once had them flirting with the division lead.

Calgary blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Tuesday in a game that began with a touching tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau, who died with his brother Matthew when they were struck by a vehicle on Aug. 29 while jogging. cycling in New Jersey.

Gaudreau was often an electric player for the Flames for eight seasons. He represented Calgary in six All-Star Games before signing with the Blue Jackets in 2022. Thousands gathered at the Saddledome on Sept. 4 for a candlelight vigil following the deaths of the Gaudreau brothers.

The Flames marked the loss of Gaudreau to both clubs and his family by welcoming his parents Gus and Jane, his sisters Kristen and Kaitlyn, his wife Meredith and his children Noa and John to the Saddledome on Tuesday.

“We are so excited to see the family and them being here, but also sad,” Flames captain Mikael Backlund said. “Such a tragedy.”

Players from both teams wore Gaudreau’s name and number 13 on their backs during warm-ups. They walked away from the blue line and watched a video montage of Gaudreau, with his family also on the ice, listening to the Saddledome chant “Johnny.”

Backlund and Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan, both teammates of Gaudreau during his time with the Flames, shared a heartfelt embrace after a ceremonial faceoff. Monahan, a close friend of Gaudreau, signed with Columbus this summer in anticipation of a reunion.

“I think about him a lot,” Backlund said. “For him to move to Columbus and reunite with Johnny, they were so excited to be able to play together. For Monny to have to go through that every day, it’s heartbreaking.”

Coaches and players from both teams predicted it would be an emotional evening. After such a poignant pregame, the start was somewhat tepid as players from both teams who knew Gaudreau grappled with their grief.

The three other Flames skaters who were Gaudreau’s teammates combined on Calgary’s first goal to take a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.

Defender Rasmus Andersson completed a pass from Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman providing traffic in front of Columbus goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins.

Andersson pointed at the Gaudreau family in a Saddledome box after scoring.

“There are so many emotions that go through your body, and they know that I love them, and my family and I will always be there for them,” Andersson said.

“It was a great night, but at the same time it sucked. It was great to see them all here and see how loved he was and still is in the city.”

Dan Vladar was a Flames goaltender during Gaudreau’s final season in Calgary. He stopped 16 shots to achieve the shutout.

“A lot of emotions,” Vladar said. “At that point, you really don’t want to play hockey, but you remember Johnny, how he always wanted to play hockey with a smile. This one’s for him.”

After defenseman Kevin Bahl’s first goal as a Flame gave the hosts a 2-0 lead late in the third period, the Saddledome erupted in chants of “Johnny Hockey.” Gaudreau’s father, Gus, was named the third star of the game. He was flanked by Andersson and Backlund on the ice.

After 15 games in 30 days in November, and after earning a point on a four-game road trip to end the month, the Flames were able to shoulder the emotional burden of the evening and get back on track to victory at the Saddledome, where their 10-3-0 record is tied for third in the NHL.

“I’m proud of them. That’s a tough question,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska, who was an assistant coach for Gaudreau’s final four years in Calgary. “It was a very well done tribute, but I found it hard and have watched it five times now.”

A four-game home winning streak in mid-November moved the Flames behind the Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division. The four-game slide to end the month put Calgary behind Los Angeles and Vancouver.

“It was a tough month. Our toughest of the year and we came out above .500 and in tough situations,” Huska said.

“We would have liked to get a few more wins on this road trip, but finding a way to get back to it right away… it’s just something we have to continue to build on here at home.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.