Before puck drop, the Wild honored Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew after they were killed on Aug. 29 when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bikes.
Johnny Gaudreau, who was nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” broke into the NHL with Calgary after starring at Boston College, where he played one season alongside Matthew. Wild and Columbus players stood for a video tribute before 13 seconds of silence, a nod to the number Johnny Gaudreau wore during his career including the last two seasons with the Blue Jackets.
“It’s the hockey community coming together and having a moment for them, their family, everything like that,” said Boldy, who played with Johnny Gaudreau for Team USA at the World Championships in May. “The recognition is, I think, important.”
The Wild also recognized former coach Dean Evason, who was coaching his first game against the Wild since he was fired last November.
Evason, who went 147-77-27 at the helm of the Wild during parts of five seasons, was hired by Columbus in July, and he saw mostly familiar faces from his perch behind the visitors’ bench.
Only forwards Yakov Trenin and Jakub Lauko were making their team debuts; although rookies Liam Ohgren and Jesper Wallstedt cracked the team’s initial roster, neither was in the lineup.
