COLUMBUS, OH – Participating in their first outdoor game, the Columbus Blue Jackets have had this moment in their sights since the schedule was announced. Further, there have been few times in their history that a game this late in the season had so much significance.
Holding onto the first wild-card in the fight for a playoff spot is the position they find themselves in and just beneath them in the standings is their opponent or Saturday night’s Stadium Series match-up, the Detroit Red Wings. A win Thursday night in The Motor City allowed the Blue Jackets to reach the 66 points possessed by the Red Wings. Saturday night will alter those standings.
While the game at hand means more than the spectacle of what will be the second largest crowd in NHL history, Friday afternoon was the time to take in the moment during practice, get used to the ice, perspectives, enjoy family and have fun skating around the rink after a series of drills sought to acclimate the teams before Saturday night’s tilt.
Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was asked what this would mean to Johnny Gaudreau who along with his brother, Matthew, was killed by a drunk driver while in New Jersey for their sister’s wedding.
Evason answered, “Johnny loved to play. I flew out to see him during the only time we had every met, spent time with him just once. It was during that meeting he said he just wanted to win, didn’t tell me who he wanted to play with, what we should do on the power play, just wanted to win. He just loved the game”
Evanson went on to say, “Johnny is with us, every day. We feel his presence in the room. His passing has caused us to become closer as team, there are no cliques here, we are a closely-knit team and Johnnye has played a role in what we are as a team today.”
The coach made clear there would be special moments interwoven into Saturday’s game to remember the Gaudreau brothers and that Johnny’s wife, Meredith, would play a role in the event honoring her late husband.”
Zach Werenski spoke of the outdoor game and the time he spent in college playing for Michigan amidst the elements. His teammate, Saturday’s opponent Dylan Larkin, played in The Big Chill at The Big House when the Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans in overtime 6-5. Come gametime, though, the two friends won’t be playing nice as this game means something important to the clubs in the standings.
Boone Jenner who has wrestled with recent injuries is geared up for the Red Wings at The Shoe, eager as captain to contribute and set the tone for this stretch run. Cole Sillinger will not play and Jenner knows his presence is needed during this crucial time in the schedule.
Detroit coach Todd McLellan spoke similarly as Evanson about his team, that today was about fun and family, discussed how fun it was to see three generations of family in Patrick Kane’s party, his mother and father joining grandson Patrick Jr. and mother Amanda Grahovec.
Kane will be playing in his seventh outdoor game, tying him with Philadelphia’s James Van Riemsdyk, until he takes the ice in which he will be the leader at eight outdoor games. Kane spoke about how it had been six years since he skated outside, when the Blackhawks were defeated by the Boston Bruins at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN by a score of 4-2.
Dylan Larkin spoke about the time he played outdoors alongside Zach Werenski in that game with Michigan at The Big Chill at The Big House. He too vowed to be all business with his friend on the other side of the red line in an effort to get the two points.
The full day which begins early culminates with puck drop is at 6:00 ET.
Dennis Morrell has developed a deeply rooted passion for our game over many decades as a goaltender, writer, photographer, goalie coach, and active Level 3 USA Hockey-certified, on-ice official with over 2,500 games with the whistle. His passion for the game began in the early 70s upon his first glance at players battling for the puck at Clayton’s Shaw Park.
And yes, the ice is perfect.
He has been fortunate to journalistically cover 2 NHL Entry Drafts, 5 NHL All-Star Games, 10 NHL Outdoor Games in two countries and 25 games played in the context of 10 Stanley Cup Final series, witnessing the oldest trophy in sports lifted by the champion 4 times, including when his beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, won their first chalice in 2019.
He has witnessed over 1,000 major and minor professional games in over 250 different arenas. He can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow him on Twitter at DMMORRELL.
