Meredith Gaudreau issues statement after NHL's Stadium Series matchup at Ohio Stadium: 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart ... for honoring John.'

The Stadium Series game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday promised to have it all: a crowd of more than 90,000 — making it the second largest in NHL history — and an electric atmosphere inside the iconic Ohio Stadium.

The NHL also ensured a key figure was front and centre at the event. Columbus is mourning the death of Johnny Gaudreau, the NHL star known as "Johnny Hockey," and his younger brother, Matthew, who were struck and killed while riding bicycles near their New Jersey home Aug.

Sean Higgins’ attorneys are claiming the state kept it a secret that the brothers were intoxicated when they were hit on their bikes.

The widow of the late Johnny Gaudreau expressed her overwhelming gratitude for the way the Blue Jackets and the NHL honored him during the Stadium Series game between the Red Wings and Blue Jackets over the weekend.

Johnny is still teaching us so many ways,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “We talk about him a lot. There’s just so many ways that Johnny has inspired us."

New forwards Luke Kunin, Christian Fischer give Blue Jackets needed depth to make their final push in a tight race for a playoff spot.

Minutes after losing to the Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's thoughts were with the family of late Columbus star Johnny Gaudreau.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets wore what Johnny Gaudreau used to wear to the rink while the Detroit Red Wings wore jerseys honoring the Gaudreau brothers.

The Detroit Red Wings arrived at Ohio Stadium wearing a selection of jerseys from Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew, who were killed on Aug. 29.

The Columbus Blue Jackets wore what Johnny Gaudreau used to wear to the rink while the Detroit Red Wings wore jerseys honoring the Gaudreau brothers.