Original subtitles

[birds tweeting]

[dog barking]

Baby John, you're going to play hockey when he's big?

You want to get the sticks?

Big Johnny, come on.

I met John in the summer of 2018.

We were next-door neighbors down the shore.

-Daddy. -I'm gonna do Daddy now.

Curly hair. A lot of curly hair.

Yay.

I had never heard of him. I had never heard of Johnny Hockey.

I thought it was a retired older hockey person moving in.

And then when I saw him, I was like,

"That can't be him."

One time, I was at his house, and his dad was watching

the top-ranked forwards for that upcoming season.

And he popped up, and I was like,

"Is that you?"

He was like, "No."

And he was so shy and humble about it,

as I started to catch on and noticed people were looking at him in a good way.

And before I knew it,

one thing led to another, and it was perfect. [chuckles]

-Pretty cool, huh? Ha! -Yeah.

[broadcaster 1] I am really excited right now.

Johnny Gaudreau is with me in his Blue Jackets polo.

Welcome, and congratulations to you.

Yeah, thank you. Super excited.

[broadcaster 2] It's been widely reported

that you took less money to come here. Is that accurate?

[J. Gaudreau] Leaving Calgary to come to Columbus

was more of a family decision for me.

And Columbus kind of seems like kind of a quiet little city

and suits us really well. We're really enjoying it so far.

[Meredith] We loved that we were at a phase

where we were starting our family,

and on the East Coast, closer to our relatives.

[J. Gaudreau] High-five.

-You guys want to know what it is? -[women] Yes.

-It's a boy. -[women scream and cheer]

It's your brother.

[baby crying]

It was just a really good fit for where we were in our lives.

[somber music playing]

[reporter] An unspeakable tragedy has rocked the hockey world.

Thursday night in New Jersey,

NHL star winger Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets

and his younger brother Matthew were struck from behind and killed by an SUV.

The Gaudreau brothers were set to be groomsmen

in their sister's wedding on Friday.

[Greenberg] Johnny Gaudreau was known as Johnny Hockey.

He won the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top player.

Gaudreau then went to the National Hockey League

and was an instant star.

[Monahan] And the Johnny Hockey nickname, it suits his game for sure,

his vision on the ice, the way he thinks.

That's why he has so many fans. It's admirable to watch.

[announcer] Johnny Gaudreau on a breakaway!

Scores!

[all cheering]

[Greenberg] He then signed a seven-year, $68 million contract

to go to Columbus, where he was just about to start his third season.

[Nurse] That tragedy shook the hockey world to its core

because at the end of the day, they weren't just hockey players.

They were brothers, husbands, sons, friends.

And they were going to be missed by so many different people.

[Meredith] There's specifically one week that I will cherish forever.

We're actually a family of five.

I'm in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby,

a total surprise.

But again, John was beaming and so excited.

[applause]

[announcer] And now, please join us as we welcome to the ice

Johnny's wife Meredith and their children, Noa and Johnny.

[Meredith] John, you spent your entire life working hard for your family

and making us so proud of you every single day.

Now it's my turn to make you proud,

as you watch down on us from heaven with Uncle Matty by your side.

As the team gets ready to take a warm-up before the game,

I want you all to be inspired by the life that John lived.

That means love your family first and foremost.

And when it's time to drop the puck, let's love the game that John loved.

Thank you, and go Jackets.

[applause]

[Shelley] The fact that Meredith told the players

to go play for Johnny, and having her be that strong

really put the organization in a position to look inward,

and the players to rely upon each other to figure out,

how do you move forward?

[crowd chanting and clapping rhythmically]

[announcer 1] And they drop the puck.

-Thirteen seconds... -[announcer 2] What a moment.

[announcer 1] ...off the clock for Johnny Gaudreau.

[tender music playing]

[crickets chirping]

[Waddell] From the accident to the funeral,

there was a span of ten days or so.

We had the players come into town pretty quick after that.

And I can remember we just sat down in a room and just chatted.

It was just about being together.

You know, a day doesn't go by that we don't think about Johnny for sure.

But I go back to what Meredith said at opening night.

Johnny wants you to go play hockey. I want you to go play hockey.

Go play hockey.

She's so strong of a person.

And for her to be able to go through what she's going through and,

you know, be so supportive of the players getting back,

uh, was outstanding.

[Shelley] It was expected to be a terrible season in a lot of ways.

They finished in the bottom of the Eastern Conference last year,

and were expected to be there again this year.

And then losing your best player to a tragedy.

How do you deal with that?

What's next?

Everyone's just saying, "Poor Blue Jackets."

[Waddell] We're not in a position to win the Stanley Cup this year.

Gonna try to, like, have to get into the playoffs, all that.

But, you know, don't-- Tough situation.

And we know if we stick together and work together and play together,

that we have a better chance of having success.

When I was up in Calgary, they gave us a few of these.

They were signed by Johnny and Sean. Gave Meredith a few copies of it.

There was originals. There was like three or four originals there.

Jenner and Gudbranson have been out, but, you know, Monahan,

as good of a player as he's been on the ice,

he's the one I worried about the most.

And he bought his house right behind Johnny, the whole thing.

So, uh, I just-- I don't know how he's done it. He's been amazing.

[Subban] It says a lot that Monahan wanted to go to a place

that traditionally, not a lot of guys have shown that they want to sign.

It was all about Johnny Hockey and him wanting to play with Johnny.

[Monahan] A minute after I signed here, I had messages from Boone and John

telling me that there's a house available within 20 steps from both of them.

So came and checked it out, and, I mean, it had all worked out.

The first time I met John was development camp,

and then it was his first game with the Flames' organization.

We were a bit of an older team at the time too,

so I was excited to get another young guy to hang out with.

[announcer] Chris Breen slams one towards the goal.

Tipped in by Johnny Gaudreau.

His first NHL game, he's got his first NHL goal.

[Monahan] We hung out a lot. We experienced a lot together too.

I mean, I was 18, 19. He was 19, 20.

And linemates for the next seven or eight years.

He made his impact pretty quickly.

[announcer] Sean Monahan, good to Gaudreau. Scores!

Hat trick, Johnny Gaudreau.

[Blackburn] At their peak, Monahan and Gaudreau

were as good as any tandem in the entire NHL.

They put up crazy numbers, and it was great to watch.

[announcer] Gaudreau passes. They score! Sean Monahan!

[Blackburn] They were the engine that made the Calgary Flames go.

[Monahan] I was lucky enough to be his linemate.

Probably set me up for over 150 goals, at least.

[announcer] Gaudreau in front. Feeds a pass to Lindholm.

Stopped by Oettinger. Took it up high. Gaudreau scores!

[Monahan] He just loved playing the game

and to make those special plays, highlight reels.

[announcer] Johnny Gaudreau sends the Flames to round two.

He's gonna go down as one of the best guys to play this game.

[crowd cheering]

[Meredith] When Sean signed in Columbus,

it was one of the best days of Sean's life.

[Monahan] Kind of an easy decision, but John was calling me every five minutes

from the day our season ended in Winnipeg to the day of free agency.

I'm pretty sure I still got a voicemail on my phone that he left me.

[Meredith] They were like brothers.

Kind of grew up together in this world, and they talked every single day.

When John was out in Calgary, Sean and Brittany were his family.

He was just someone that, you know, John really looked up to.

He's been...

really special to me and my kids

because I know how much he meant to John.

[Monahan] It took a while for me. I was quiet for a while.

And you get all these different emotions that hit you.

But some days, I'm laughing. Some days, it's sad. Um...

I think being at the rink and playing is, uh, obviously something

that takes your mind off everything for sure.

[broadcaster] We all picked the Columbus Blue Jackets

to finish eighth in their division.

They lost their best offensive player.

-Like, Johnny Gaudreau passed away. -[man] Yeah.

[broadcaster] And if they make playoffs,

like, that is the greatest story of all time.

Six a side?

Columbus gets off to a surprisingly great start to the season,

and Sean Monahan's at the center of it.

And it's such a gut punch when he suffers a bad wrist injury.

[Monahan] The road to recovery for me right now,

I'm trying to get back, hoping to be a couple weeks away.

[trainer] Nice.

[Monahan] We got a great team. It's just-- Mentally, it's a grind.

I mean, it's tough to watch and not play.

Blue Jackets have been having a moment all season long.

Yes, they are, I believe, the second wild card right now.

They are doing it without Sean Monahan,

which is unbelievable because Sean Monahan has been such a big part

of that team's turnaround this year.

Ten more.

[Monahan] If you can't be part of it, you got to put the work in

so you're ready when you get back.

And I think when teammates, the other guys, pushing to get back in the lineup,

it keeps them hungry.

We have a motivated group in here. It's a special feeling to be in this room.

And, I mean, everyone's trying to push the needle forward here.

[birds tweeting]

[door closes]

[Werenski] There's not a day goes by I don't think about him.

There's times where you're sitting on the bench thinking about him,

and I feel like it just gives you more motivation to go out and play hard

and play for each other.

[emotional music playing]

We were in Jersey for the funeral.

We were all sitting there afterwards, like, "What would John want us to do?"

He'd want us to go have a couple beers. He'd want us to tell stories and laugh.

And it's been a good way to kind of remind ourselves

to just go enjoy it and have fun because that's what John did at the rink.

I feel like for practice, I'm early. I'm one of the first guys there.

Monahan's pretty early,

so when I go with him we usually get there around 4:00.

John used to get there at, like, 4:59, and we had our power play at 5:05.

He was the last one every time.

What happened with John, I feel like people were writing us off,

Hey, guys.

Dusty.

People weren't sure how we were gonna respond.

We weren't sure how we were gonna respond.

[broadcaster] Zach Werenski, unbelievable.

[Werenski] I don't need too many shots.

[broadcaster] Since December 23rd,

Werenski was first in the NHL in assists, points and shots.

Norris Trophy season, dude.

He's on pace for 92 points and a plus-16 this year on the Columbus Blue Jackets!

[Werenski] Hey, yeah, yeah!

I know it's been a team effort, but have you noticed "Z," in particular?

Growing as a player, as a leader, and how much has that helped this team?

[Jenner] Yeah, right from that first game.

I mean, he's been, you know, the backbone back there for us,

and driving offense, scoring goals.

He's, uh, taken a huge step and he's a really, really elite player,

obviously, in this league, and top defenseman for a reason.

And we're lucky to have him.

[broadcaster] Team just released that Sean Monahan

will be out an additional six to eight weeks.

Bad news there for Monahan and obviously the Blue Jackets.

[woman] Thank you.

[Werenski] We're dealing with some injuries,

but it's been four years since I played meaningful hockey.

Every night I'm checking the scoreboard

and seeing where we're at in the standings, who we're playing against.

We're a good hockey team, and we know we are.

We play the right way, and we play hard. We can play with anyone.

Hey, with you, with you, with you!

[shouting]

[announcer] Werenski cutting.

-He scores! -[Werenski] Whoo!

-[announcer] Zach Werenski! -Let's go!

[announcer] One-nothing Jackets.

-Great play. Great fucking play. -Thanks, man.

Werenski is one of the most underrated blue-liners in the league.

And this year, he's really showed up for that team

in ways that I don't think they expected.

[Werenski] Now, it's you. Come in, come in, come in!

[Bissonnette] I mean, what doesn't Zach Werenski do?

He plays against top lines, he plays any situation.

Power play, penalty kill, goalie pulled.

You need a big goal scored, he'll do it. You need a play made, he'll do it.

[announcer 1] Adrian Kempe lays, shoots. Werenski with the block.

[announcer 2] How good is that play by Werenski?

He's the guy there, there's no question, and you can see it.

[announcer] Columbus looking for victory. Kirill Marchenko dancing on in.

He scores!

Jackets win 3-2.

That was sick!

[applause]

Us against the world, boys.

[Werenski] Other teams don't feel bad for us when we're injured.

We have a lot of guys on our team that are pushing hard right now, playing hard.

It's that "next man up" mentality.

Good for you guys. That's a big fucking win.

That's not an easy hockey game. It was a fucking grind.

We talked about it, you stuck with it, so enjoy your two days off.

-All right, boys. -[applause]

[Werenski] We know how we have to play.

If we make the playoffs and get some guys healthy,

we can definitely do some damage.

It's just getting there and making it, so it's gonna be a sprint to the finish.

[broadcaster] Right now, we could be in, like,

"changing of the guard" watch in the Eastern Conference,

based off what we've seen over the last couple of weeks.

That stadium series game on March 1st has a lot of juice to it

because Columbus and Detroit are two of the hottest teams in the league,

and there could be playoff implications on the line.

I'm very excited for that game.

Hi, Uncle Z.

[Werenski] It's a little late for the Christmas tree and the decorations,

but my fiancé got some gifts for Noa,

and we've just been waiting for her to come by and open them

and see the big tree.

Look how big their tree is.

What?

[Odette] Do you want to open something?

Did Santa come leave you a couple things?

-Santa came here? -Presents...

-Your presents. -Your presents.

[Meredith] You got the slime.

Open.

[Meredith] Open it?

[Noa] Yeah.

Come on, buddy. Look how big you're getting.

[laughs]

[Werenski] Where we live in New Albany, it's the Jenners, the Monahans.

We live there. It's a good group of people there.

Guys are close on every team,

but I feel like this team's-- It's special.

This one.

[Werenski] You like the purple?

There's so many of us that are there for them and want to help them.

And I feel like the main thing that I learned,

there's really not much you can do except be there for them.

Oh.

That's toast now.

-Yeah. -[Werenski laughs]

[Meredith] We don't buy messy toys.

[both laugh]

You know, being around the team is comforting.

I know John would want his kids to stay a part of this world,

just be close to his people.

[Werenski] That's your Uncle Boone. Mix them all together here soon.

[laughs]

[Meredith] I'm excited for the outdoor game.

Those are always fun.

The organization is making a special point to do something for John.

It is sad because he was looking forward to having an outdoor game.

Wow.

It's so sticky.

[Werenski] I know. It's not coming out.

[Meredith] But, you know, I know he's looking down,

really proud of these guys.

Noa, should we go out to dinner, or should we stay here and play?

Stay here and play.

-[Meredith] Okay. -[all laugh]

[dramatic music playing]

[broadcaster] I contend that tomorrow

is the most important day in franchise history.

This franchise has never taken center stage.

You're gonna be in front of roughly 100,000 people.

I think a lot of people are gonna realize there's a reason why

a lot of Blue Jackets fans feel so strongly about this team

is because there is a real family atmosphere about it.

Cheese.

[Jenner] We've all been here watching football games and concerts,

but to actually have an NHL game out here, it's gonna be pretty cool.

[Werenski] It's my first outdoor game. It's the city's first outdoor game.

And our fans are jacked up for it.

So I'm expecting a great atmosphere

and it's gonna be a hell of a game, so I'm excited.

[producer] What's it like to see all the 13's around...

Do you feel his presence, even in these kinda big moments?

Yeah, I mean, to be honest, I feel his presence all the time.

I don't know if he sends me signs or what it is.

I feel like he's watching down on us,

and trying to make him proud for sure.

[crowd chanting] CBJ! CBJ!

[announcer] We're back in the capital of the great state of Ohio.

Inside the Horseshoe, more than 90,000 people on hand.

Boone, I asked you yesterday when we did the Johnny skate,

do you think Johnny would like to be here?

And you said, "Yes, he would like to be here." Correct?

-[Jenner] Yes. -He'd like to be here.

But you know what? He is here.

He's with all of us.

With family here. With Meredith here.

Go with him out there, play the game the right way,

how we fucking play, we'll have success. Let's fucking go.

[clapping]

[Blackburn] The stadium series is a moment

that the market has been waiting for for a long time.

It's kind of the final recognition of Johnny Gaudreau

and the celebration of his life this season.

And Meredith Gaudreau is there with the kids front and center.

[announcer] The Columbus Blue Jackets!

[crowd cheering]

[Meredith] Walking into the stadium that day

with Sean by my side and the Blue Jackets behind me,

it was really symbolic.

It just felt like this whole team has got my back.

[rock music playing]

[crowd cheering]

[announcer] The Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Jackets ready to go.

the 43rd outdoor game, the first ever involving the Blue Jackets,

the first ever in the state of Ohio.

[Werenski] Oh, you fucker.

[announcer] The odds to make the playoffs.

That's what's on the minds of these two teams and their fan bases.

[crowd chanting] CBJ! CBJ!

CBJ! CBJ!

[announcer 1] And the "CBJ" chant starts up.

[announcer 2] JVR picks it up in front, try to get it off the body of Jenner.

[announcer 1] Jackets with a chance.

-Yeah! -[announcer 1] They score!

1-nothing, Blue Jackets, their first ever outdoor goal.

Fuck, yeah.

Oh, boy.

[crowd] Johnny... Hockey...

Johnny... Hockey...

-Johnny Hockey! -[claps rhythmically]

[Meredith] Every tribute has been beautiful in its own way,

and I'm really touched by them. It's an honor to stand there for John.

[crowd chanting] Johnny Hockey!

Be ready. Shots here, right? I'll look for you.

[Werenski] I feel like for all of us, just to hear 90-plus thousand people

chanting "Johnny Hockey" got us going there.

That was a huge moment for our team.

[announcer 1] Blue Jackets win the draw.

They've got the puck. Werenski on the right wing boards.

Bottom of the right wing circle...

[player screams] That's a score!

[announcer 1] They score right on cue. Make it 2-1 for the Jackets.

Hey, great face-off.

[announcer 1] Werenski has really picked up his game

since Monahan went down.

Eighteen goals and 62 points.

Mathieu Olivier.

He jams it out in front and scores!

[crowd cheering]

Mathieu Olivier makes it 3-1 for the CBJ.

[player] Let's go, baby!

[announcer 2] Blue Jackets, a two-goal lead heading into the third period.

[all cheering]

[Werenski] I was looking at him. You say, "Leave it."

Like, instead of going way, like go corner.

Maybe next time I'll stay on that side. I just want to get to my forehand.

-Give 'em the skate, then you go. -[player] Yeah.

Just, like, just more of like a shallow route.

[Shelley] I think Zach is always been a supporter when it comes to leadership,

and I think this year he got thrust into a position where he had to be a leader.

You got people from all over the world in that locker room,

and they really came together. It was something to admire.

[Werenski] So let's just try and get our gaffes and lock it down,

and fucking win it here.

[Subban] Thank you on behalf of all hockey fans

around the world for being so gracious with your time.

Well, I want to say thank you to everyone else making it so special for us

and honoring John and making our kids a big part of it,

because that's what he intended for them.

[announcer 1] Third period underway.

Detroit had a huge edge in shots.

They carry the play, and they score!

Patrick Kane makes it 3-2.

Let's get one and two going a little harder here in the neutral zone.

[announcer 1] Three and a half to go.

They are all over the Blue Jackets.

They score!

-Alex DeBrincat! -[crowd cheers]

And Detroit is all even with Columbus.

[Werenski] Gotta be sharper, boys.

We've dealt with adversity in clubs for a long time,

and I think that just shows the type of character we have in our room,

the type of resilience we have in our room.

Keep going forward. North here. Keep going north.

[announcer 1] Under two and a half to go. And here's Danforth!

-He scores! -[all cheer]

Took the puck away and scored on his own rebound!

[triumphant music playing]

-[player 1] Holy fuck, what a goal. -[player 2] Fucking A!

[announcer 2] Jenner's got it. To the middle, Werenski... hits the post.

[announcer 1] Werenski grazed the side of the same post.

They score!

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

-[player 1] Holy fuck! -[player 2] I'm an idiot.

[player 3] Come on, boys! Way to fucking get it done.

[announcer 1] The Columbus Blue Jackets,

in their first outdoor game,

beat Detroit 5-3.

And move into the number one wild card spot in the Eastern Conference

with their fourth straight win.

Good job.

Unbelievable.

-Keep going. -You guys fucking played well, man.

I'm cheering for you guys. I'm pulling for you guys. Both of us.

-Ciao, guys. There we go, there we go. -[player] Whoo!

[Werenski] Guys stepped up at different times throughout the game.

Obviously, Danny at the end there has the huge goal.

We have, you know, 22, 23 games left, and see what happens on the stretch here.

But we have our fan base behind us, and they definitely were tonight.

-Big one. -[laughs] Good game.

That was awesome.

Fun win.

-Big one. -Big one!

[Meredith] All the tributes have been amazing.

All different in their own way.

It's so nice to see the outreach Sean has had.

But once they're all over and said and done,

I'm kind of like emotionally exhausted from them sometimes

because I do want to just put on a brave face when I'm there.

It's a lot, but I wouldn't ever pass it up

because I feel close to him when I'm there.

-Thank you, guys. -[player] Yeah.

[crickets chirping]

[Meredith] Show Johnny.

This is my sister, Lily.

She pretty much moved out with me last year

to help me when I was pregnant, and John was on the road a lot.

And she actually was in the delivery room with John and I when we had Johnny,

so she's been there every step of the way with this little guy.

-And number three. -Yeah.

So I have a lot of help, which is good.

I'm unfortunately getting used to this new normal.

It's just that, you know, little things still feel the same,

although John can't do them with me.

Daddy, doctor.

No Daddy doctor.

[Meredith] Anyone in a mask is a doctor.

I didn't really know when it all was happening

what next week or tomorrow or the next month would look like.

And then as time went on, I thought, I do want to have this baby in Columbus

with our same doctor that we had our first babies with

because she knew John really well.

[Merrick] Wow.

We always do a big pool online of everyone's guesses of boy or girl.

Is that our new baby in my belly?

Knowing, like, I had all three babies with the same doctor in the same city

at the same hospital is one thing that I could look back on in knowing,

you know, that part didn't have to change.

Hey!

It just felt right.

Careful. These are special.

[traffic ambience]

[Monahan] I remember my dad used to tie my skates when I was a kid.

-Good? -Yeah.

Now, it kind of sucks when someone else has to tie your skates.

When you're hurting, you're looking in from the outside.

It... I mean, it can get frustrating.

But yeah, you got to try and stay positive.

[Blackburn] They were coming off such a high at the outdoor game,

and then immediately after the fact, they take a nosedive.

And they lose eight out of their next nine games.

And Monahan, such a central piece,

just feels like they need him back as soon as possible.

-Okay, ready? -[Monahan] Yeah.

[dramatic music playing]

[broadcaster] I think most of the season, they were scoring goals.

The last, what, two weeks or so, they haven't been scoring goals.

Oh, yeah. Keep grinding, Monny.

[broadcaster] I think the team we saw earlier in the season,

I think it'll come back around. We're gonna get Monahan back Monday.

Ooh!

Jesus!

[man] You alright?

Yeah.

Might have hurt my elbow. Fuck.

Oh!

[groans]

[broadcaster] These next couple games will be big for them,

but I believe that the Jackets can do this,

get it turned around and squeak into the playoffs.

[Monahan] We're a resilient team on the ice,

and everyone's got to pull their weight and do their job.

And I think this is a team that can compete in the playoffs.

[panting]

Tomorrow will be huge.

Need those two points tomorrow.

[airplane engines powering down]

[broadcaster] It was announced today that Sean Monahan is back in the lineup.

And I didn't realize this about Monahan.

He's got 41 points in 41 games.

He's been big-time, as we all know.

I would like to be optimistic about this team.

But the reality is you're four points out right now of the playoff spot.

I mean, these are the type of games you have to win.

[announcer 1] Now Monahan a flip.

Boone Jenner, here he is.

One on one and working in against Dobson.

Wrist shot, he scores!

[announcer 2] And the Columbus Blue Jackets snap a six-game losing streak.

[Blackburn] It looked like it was over for the Blue Jackets,

and then they get hot and they play themselves back into contention.

[announcer 1] Monahan, he looks for a play.

Skates out. Sets it up. Marchenko fires.

Columbus Blue Jackets win it 7-6!

[broadcaster] Ten games remain for the Blue Jackets this season.

They come in tonight two points out of a wild card spot

in the Eastern Conference.

[announcer] Monahan dangling in. Can he finish?

Yes, he does!

[horn blowing]

We're in for such a great finish in this Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Over to Monahan. With a look. Here he is!

He scores! Sean Monahan!

[reporter] Feels like you're just playing game sevens every night.

We're playing hard, trying to get two points every night

to get where we want to be, and that's in the playoffs.

[announcer] Zach Werenski, now a great chance.

And they score.

[horn blows]

So when the Norris Trophy ballots are in,

Zach Werenski will be in the top three for sure.

The Norris Trophy goes to the best defenseman in the NHL,

and Zach Werenski, this year,

was really, really putting on a strong campaign to win the Norris.

You're having a great season, man.

Appreciate that. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[announcer] Werenski, a shot. Scores!

Big team win, but sometimes you gotta celebrate the milestones here...

Z, the franchise leader in assists.

[all cheer]

This wouldn't be possible without you guys, so I appreciate it.

-And let's just keep this thing rolling. -[cheers and applause]

[broadcaster 1] Jackets still alive.

[broadcaster 2] Staying alive, Beam.

[broadcaster 3] Okay, so the Canadiens host the Hurricanes tonight.

If the Canadiens get a point, they're in the playoffs, and that is it.

And then we congratulate the Columbus Blue Jackets

on a wonderful season.

If they lose this game in regulation, then tomorrow,

when the Columbus Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders,

they can get into the playoffs by winning in regulation.

[producer] How has it felt to be in the Norris conversation?

It's been a little weird, to be honest.

I definitely noticed it,

whether that's, you know, through social media or people in the city.

It's been fun, but definitely been different.

I don't... I can't say I love the spotlight.

I'm just trying to enjoy the year. Hopefully we make the playoffs, and...

We're still in it, right? Until we're eliminated or until we clinch,

we just have to keep playing and keep playing our game.

[crowd cheering]

[announcer] It all comes down to this. Game 82 for the Montreal Canadiens.

And a single point tonight will earn their spot

into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Unfortunately, for the Columbus Blue Jackets,

they have to sit there and watch this go down tonight

and hope that this lineup for Carolina can take down the Montreal Canadiens.

[Werenski] Yeah, really nervous.

When you're in the game, you kind of have some excitement,

a little bit of nerves, but when you're watching,

there's just nothing you can do to help have the outcome that you want.

So it's just a totally different feel.

[dramatic music playing]

[Blackburn] This season, the team with the most national backing

was the Blue Jackets because people knew the story.

[announcer] Juraj Slafkovský sends it over to Kaiden Guhle.

Guhle with a shot. Scores!

Guhle gets Montreal on the board first.

[Blackburn] And it would have just been the perfect

storybook ending everybody wanted to see.

[announcer 1] And Montreal nursing a one-goal lead

with 1:59 to go here in the third period.

And you can feel the tension.

In a scramble off the draw, picked up.

And it's down the ice, scores! Jake Evans!

And it's a collective sigh of relief for the building now.

-[patrons booing] -[announcer 2] And this will do it.

The Montreal Canadiens will be heading to the playoffs.

[Werenski] I definitely think that we were a playoff team,

but we can't wait for Montreal to lose or Detroit to lose or Ottawa to lose.

It was on us to win hockey games, and we didn't do enough of that.

And that's the reason we fell short.

[birds tweeting]

[baby cooing]

[Monahan] What's up, guys?

Hi, Johnny boy.

-You guys gonna go on the swing together? -[Monahan] On the swing?

[Meredith] Being so close to the team this year was really comforting to me.

You know, it's where we would have been together.

So I find a lot of comfort in being around the people that John was closest to.

And, you know, those boys saw John every single day.

They knew him so well.

This is Baby Carter. Carter Michael.

Pretty good still, just sleeps a lot so I can bring him out here with me

all the time when the kids want to come out.

He's all John. He came out weighing the exact same as John,

and the exact same length.

Yeah, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 20 and a half inches.

And that was exactly like his daddy.

-[Monahan] That's nice. -[lips smacking]

Looking at Carter, looks just like Johnny.

Carter's a special kid, and someone who I'm gonna be

keeping a close eye on for the rest of my life.

And, you know, to watch them grow up.

-Hey, Uncle Sean... -Yeah?

I wanna go down the slide.

-You're gonna go down the slide? -Yeah.

We got a whole line here now with Leo and my two.

So we'll see if they pan out to be like their dads.

[laughs]

Yay!

Slow and steady.

Whoa! Oh, he's doing it!

I hope our kids are gonna be hockey players.

I know that's what John always wanted in the back of his mind.

My father-in-law already bought Johnny skates last Christmas,

so he's waiting and he's ready, and we'll definitely give it a shot.

Bye-bye!

It's sad, to be honest, not getting a chance to play a game

to try and get in the playoffs.

But winning this game is still very important.

And John, I think he'd be proud of us.

I mean, at the end of the day, he would have been such a big part of it.

And, I mean, keeping the mood light

and a big part of the success we would have had.

So you think about that, and it can make you really emotional.

[Shelley] I honestly believe that they played every single game,

every single second together.

They played it for Johnny and Matty Gaudreau.

Let's finish it off the right way, okay, boys?

Fuck, we've done it all year. We've stuck together.

We've played for each other. Let's fucking continue that, okay?

You guys have set that standard. Let's finish it off the right way.

-All right? -[applause]

[Blackburn] Columbus looks back on this season

as extremely difficult,

but also as a real formative year,

and learn that not only

are they capable of bonding together and moving through unspeakable tragedy...

-[player 1] Come on, boys. -[player 2] Let's go, boys.

...but also, they're a pretty good hockey team.

[announcer] For the Blue Jackets, what a regular season.

So many career years,

none better than the season for that guy, Zach Werenski,

finalist for the Norris Trophy for top defenseman.

[Blackburn] This season felt like a coming-out party for Zach Werenski.

A lot of people knew that he was a great player,

but I don't know if a lot of people knew that he had, like, this in him.

[announcer] Zach, the leading point scorer for the team.

80 points.

Only Panarin with more in a single season in Blue Jackets history.

[Subban] Zach Werenski, his leadership qualities

and how he stepped up for the city of Columbus both on and off the ice,

it's been great to watch him play, to watch him develop.

[announcer] A nice move by Werenski.

[crowd cheers]

Back door, to Voronkov.

[cheering]

That's an assist for Zach Werenski.

[Werenski] Good job, guys.

You know, the sport of hockey is incredible.

But at the end of the day, the most important thing is your family,

your friends, your close ones.

♪ Happy birthday, dear Daddy ♪

Come on.

Come on.

[Werenski] But that's what I learned most from John,

and I think I really value that now more than ever.

Hey, be ready.

[announcer] It's a three on one for Columbus.

Monahan over. Wide-open net for Werenski.

-[crowd cheers] -[horn blows]

Good play.

[announcer] And this crowd is having fun

like they did all season long with this team.

[Monahan] I'm really proud to be a Blue Jacket

and be a part of this team.

And John is obviously a huge part of this organization

and the culture that it was beginning to become.

He's someone that I really looked up to, and I don't even know if he knew that.

[woman] Johnny!

We'll see you later, all right?

[announcer] It's the end of the season, but really just the beginning

for this Columbus Blue Jackets team.

[horn blows]

Pleasure playing with you, bro. Fucking unreal, baby.

[man] Hey, Johnny's looking down on you, man.

He is proud as shit of you guys this season.

-Appreciate it. -Everything you guys did, amazing.

[crowd cheering]

[Meredith] Our family being in the spotlight this season,

you know, that was John's thing.

But without him now, you know,

I want to still take these opportunities to represent him

so that the kids have these memories to remember

how special their dad was.

[announcer] Johnny Gaudreau!

[baby crying]