A hockey game was played at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday night.

But hockey wasn’t the focus of what was officially Game 404 of the National Hockey League’s 2024-25 season, pitting the Calgary Flames against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.

Instead, everyone’s thoughts – both within the Saddledome and in the broader hockey world – were with the family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. While the family has felt the love and support of the Flames’ fanbase since the tragic loss of the brothers at the end of August, but this was the first time for them to feel the love in person.

During warm-up, both teams wore Gaudreau jerseys. The game was preceded by an stirring video tribute and a ceremonial puck drop, with Johnny Gaudreau’s best friend Sean Monahan and Flames captain Mikael Backlund flanked by the entirety of both teams as the Gaudreau family dropped the puck. The family was showered with loud cheers throughout the game. There were chants of “Johnny Hockey” echoing through the Saddledome in the waning moments of a 3-0 Flames victory.

When Rasmus Andersson scored the game’s first goal midway through the second period, rather than finding an opposition fan to stare down along the glass – as has become his trademark this season – he instead threw a wave to salute the Gaudreau family in the stands.

“Didn’t want to stare anyone down today,” said Andersson. “Just showed love and support for the family.”

Andersson and Backlund shared an embrace following the goal.

“I didn’t know really what to say,” said Backlund. “I was just so excited for him and for us to connect together on that first goal, on a special night like tonight. It was a moment we’ll always remember.”

It was only fitting that on a night when the beloved, departed former Flame was front of mind for fans and teammates alike that Johnny Gaudreau was named the game’s first star. In place of his son, Johnny’s father, Guy, came out to take the game’s curtain call alongside Andersson and Backlund.

Despite the heightened emotions of the evening – or perhaps fuelled by them – the Flames played one of their stingiest defensive outings in years. They allowed just 16 shots overall, and netminder Dan Vladar went nearly 24 minutes between Columbus shots across the first and second periods. The 16 shots is the least the Flames have allowed in a game since February 2023. Vladar posted the shutout wearing a mask honouring the lives of Johnny and Matthew.

Following the game, head coach Ryan Huska praised his group for their performance in light of the challenging circumstances.

“Like, lots of emotions and, yeah, at that point, you know, you kind of don’t really want to play hockey,” said Vladar of tackling a hockey game after the emotional pre-game ceremony. “But, you know, then you remember Johnny, how he always wanted to play hockey with a smile on. So this one’s for him and, yeah, he was watching us for sure, and this one goes to him.”

“It was a great night, but at the same time it sucked, right?” said Andersson. “But it was great to see [the Gaudreau family] all here and to see how loved he was, and still is, in this city.”

The Flames are back in action on Thursday night when they host the St. Louis Blues.