By Luke Essig, Staff Writer

The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets faced off in the National Hockey League’s (NHL) stadium series at Ohio Stadium, home of The Ohio State University Buckeyes, on Saturday. Hauling in 95,000 people, the game marked the second-highest attendance in NHL history.

The game started with a tribute to late Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. The Blue Jackets have dedicated their entire season to Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother, Matthew, in late August while riding bikes in their hometown of Salem County, N.J. The Blue Jackets players walked onto the ice in Gaudreau’s favorite outfit: black boots, black sweatpants, a light blue hoodie and a black cap with three stars on it. 

When the Blue Jackets came out onto the ice, they were led by Jane and Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s mother and wife, along with his two children. A massive “Gaudreau 13” banner was passed through the stands throughout the game.

The game itself had no shortness of action. After a lackluster first period that ended 0-0, Columbus defenseman Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring five-and-a-half minutes into the second period. It felt as if a Red Wings equalizer was coming soon, as they shot the puck 12 times to Columbus’ nine shots after the goal. Ten minutes later, the Red Wings did just that. 

After Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro committed a penalty that gave the Red Wings a power play, forward Alex DeBrincat tapped it in off of a setup from winger Patrick Kane. Even though they seemed to be bossing Columbus in possession and shots, the Red Wings let up two more goals before the end of the period. Columbus got a power play of their own, retaking the lead after a wrister by forward Dmitri Voronkov and adding the third goal 30 seconds later with a backhand goal by right wing Mathieu Olivier.

The Red Wings needed a fast start to stay in the game to open the third period, and it looked for some time like they would. They out shot Columbus 13-1 in the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the period, when their second goal came from Kane from 44 feet away. After that, the game seemed to slip away from the Blue Jackets. They were able to retain their 3-2 lead up until there were only three minutes left of the third period, when DeBrincat scored his second goal of the game, tying the game. 

Right when Detroit felt they were back where they deserved to be, the Blue Jackets retook the lead off of a slapshot deflected off of Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot and center Justin Danforth tapped the rebound into the net. Pulling their goalie for one last effort at tying the game and potentially sending it to overtime, the Red Wings couldn’t get it done. After finding themselves on a breakaway, the Blue Jackets hit the post of the empty net twice before Adam Fantilli scored after a recovery. The Blue Jackets took the game, 5-3.

The Blue Jackets were out shot 46-21, out hit 31-25, spent longer in the penalty box and gave away the puck more times than the Red Wings throughout the game, but still managed to come away with the win. Praise must be given to Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzilikins, who saved 43 shots and ultimately won Columbus the game.