It was an emotional home opener unlike any other for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
With the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in town, the Blue Jackets and Panthers paid tribute to fallen brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. During pregame warmups, each team wore jerseys featuring 'Gaudreau' and Johnny's No. 13.
The Blue Jackets and Panthers will wear #13 Gaudreau jerseys for warmups before tonight's game.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/CjX5bDc0pS
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 15, 2024
Columbus entered Tuesday's game following Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in Denver. The Panthers were in Boston on Monday afternoon, beating the Bruins 4-3. Captain Aleksander Barkov (lower-body injury) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness) did not play for Florida. Adam Boqvist made his return to Columbus after signing a one-year deal with Florida in the off-season.
With both teams looking to make it two in a row, here's how it all went down:
1st Period
(:13 — Opening face-off):
Both teams standing on their benches for the opening face-off.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 15, 2024
Johnnys spot on left wing is open.
13 seconds off the clock.
Beautiful moment. #CBJ
Sean Monahan knocked the opening faceoff to Sam Bennett, Gaudreau's former Calgary teammate, and 13 seconds ran off the clock before it was stopped. Beautiful. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 15, 2024
A moment we wont soon forget.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 15, 2024
RIP, Johnny. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/fsAt9BqgEo
The first 20 minutes saw no score between the clubs. Florida held the slim margin in shots 8-7.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
 |
0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
|
GOALS: Sillinger SH (2nd, 0:41), Monahan (2nd, 11:22), van Riemsdyk (3rd, 17:21) ASSISTS: Johnson, Chinakhov, Marchenko, Severson, Labanc |
||||
Columbus killed off two Florida penalties and was working on killing their third of the period after Jordan Harris went to the box at 19:04 for high-sticking.
2nd Period
(0:44 — 1-0 CBJ): The Blue Jackets' penalty kill was among the bright spots and thanks to Cole Sillinger, provided the first goal of the game inside the first minute of the second period.
Silly's first of the season, first career shorty, AND the first of the game gives us the lead! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/X2RWq17S0J
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 16, 2024
The goal was Sillinger's first of the season and the first short-handed goal of his career. Kent Johnson picked up the assist after his backhand pass sprung Sillinger for the breakaway goal. Johnson has four points (two goals, two assists) and a three-game point streak.
| FLORIDA | GAME STATS | COLUMBUS |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | SHOTS | 38 |
| 42.6% | FACEOFF % | 57.4% |
| 0/3 | POWER PLAY | 0/2 |
| 2/2 | PENALTY KILL | 3/3 |
| 25 | HITS | 17 |
| 23 | GIVEAWAYS | 10 |
| 8 | TAKEAWAYS | 7 |
| 13 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 13 |
| DATA VIA ESPN | ||
(10:25 — Tied 1-1): Florida answered quickly to tie the game 1-1. Anton Lundell's third of the season was assisted by Sam Reinhart and Nate Schmidt. Reinhart led the Panthers with three points on the night (one goal, two assists) and is on a three-game point streak (three goals, three assists).
REINHART JUGGLED THE PUCK TO GET IT TO LUNDELL pic.twitter.com/bCTtA9FncR
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 16, 2024
(11:22 — 2-1 CBJ): If one player was going to score for the Blue Jackets, it's only right that it would be Sean Monahan — Gaudreau's best friend and former teammate in Calgary — in his home debut to boot. Monahan's goal was his second tally in as many games for the Blue Jackets to give Columbus their second lead of the game.
Yegor Chinakhov and Kirill Marchenko added the assists. Chinakhov is on a three-game point streak (one goal, four assists). Monahan was 20-of-26 in the face-off circle on the night.
SEAN MONAHAN SCORES IN HIS BLUE JACKETS HOME DEBUT!!!
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 16, 2024
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/ddwCMBBRKN
(11:59 — Tied 2-2): All it took was 37 seconds before the Panthers once again evened the score.
Dmitry Kulikov scored his first off a deflection, with assists to Niko Mikkola and Lundell.
REINHART JUGGLED THE PUCK TO GET IT TO LUNDELL pic.twitter.com/bCTtA9FncR
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 16, 2024
(19:58 — 3-2 FLA): With 1.6 seconds remaining in the second period, the Panthers claimed their first lead of the game with Reinhart getting the goal as part of a three-point night. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett had the assists.
Columbus was scoreless on their first power play of the game in that middle frame. The Jackets outshot the Panthers 17-8. Erik Gudbranson left the game due to an upper-body injury after colliding with Monahan and did not return.
3rd Period
(15:12 — 4-2 FLA): Eetu Luostarinen scored to increase the third-period lead to two goals. Reinhart and Mikkokla picked up the assists.
Florida goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 16, 2024
Scored by Eetu Luostarinen with 04:48 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Sam Reinhart and Niko Mikkola.
Columbus: 2
Florida: 4#FLAvsCBJ #CBJ #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/HnqBZ79jnY
Dean Evason pulled Elvis Merzlikins with 4:28 left in the third period hoping to spark a comeback.
(17:21 — 4-3 FLA): James van Riemsdyk did his part to oblige, scoring his first goal as a Blue Jacket to pull the team within one. Damon Severson added an assist and has points in three straight (zero goals, three assists). Kevin Labanc added an assist.
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYKS FIRST AS A BLUE JACKET BRINGS THEM WITHIN ONE! pic.twitter.com/eKhowN5tWD
— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) October 16, 2024
Columbus peppered Spencer Knight with 38 shots but Knight and the Panthers came away with the 4-3 win. The Jackets outshot Florida 16-6 in the third.
In 5v5 play, the Blue Jackets held the edge in expected goals 2.09-1.13 per Natural Stat Trick.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets continue their four-game homestand when they take on the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET from Nationwide Arena.
