COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Islanders’ core team descended on Columbus early Wednesday morning and Ryan Pulock’s thoughts naturally turned to the late Gaudreau brothers and their family.

Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena marked the Islanders’ first game against the Blue Jackets since star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew, a former Islanders farmhand, were killed while riding their bikes after dinner. rehearsal for his sister’s wedding.

“I don’t think it’s possible not to (think about them),” the defender said before the matchup. “Even flying last night, it crossed my mind. We will definitely be thinking about him and his family tonight and being here lights it up. “There will definitely be moments where it will come to mind throughout the night.”

The Blue Jackets wear a “13 and 21” sticker on their helmets to honor the memory of the Gaudreau brothers. Johnny Gaudreau, who was 31, played the previous two seasons for the Blue Jackets, committing to Columbus for seven seasons as a coveted unrestricted free agent after nine seasons with the Calgary Flames.

Matthew Gaudreau, who was 29, matched his brother playing for Boston College in 2013-14, and spent two seasons in the Islanders organization from 2017-19.

“It was a heartbreaking loss for our hockey community and for this team, to lose someone they loved as a teammate and as a person,” said captain Anders Lee, Johnny Gaudreau’s teammate on Team USA at the Championships. World.

“You play in the World Championship and you meet a lot of guys and you see a lot of them that you played against. And then there are also opportunities to have fun. We had some fun nights with Johnny and the team, enjoying each other’s company, having a few drinks and hanging out. Those are many of the memories I will take with me from meeting Johnny.”

Center Brock Nelson was also a teammate of Johnny Gaudreau on Team USA at the World Championships.

“He was just a happy guy,” Nelson said. “Really soft-spoken, reserved, just quiet and minding his own business. He was a great teammate and friend to many guys. It meant a lot as a hockey player. Beyond that, he was a brother, husband, father and son and was just a good guy.

“He comes from a great family. It’s just a horrible situation and a tragedy. “You give the family your best thoughts and prayers and it is something unthinkable.”

Like Pulock, Nelson’s thoughts quickly turned to the Gaudreaus when he arrived in Columbus.

“For anyone who knew Johnny, the first time you go back there will probably bring back a lot of memories and different emotions.” Nelson said. “Just giving the family everything I can: support, thoughts, prayers. Try to remember Johnny and the times he had. “He was a special person.”

Center Bo Horvat, who spent nine seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, often faced Johnny Gaudreau as an opponent and they were linemates in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

“It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” Horvat said. “It’s such a tragic and horrible thing. But the way the hockey community has come together (and I’ve seen some videos of how strong his wife and family have been) is incredible. “It’s just horrible that he’s gone.”

Both the Blue Jackets and Flyers, coached by former Blue Jackets bench boss John Tortorella, have had the brothers’ father, Guy Gaudreau, a former high school hockey coach in New Jersey, join them on the ice for practices.

Notes and quotes: Defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body/day-to-day) was out of the lineup for the third straight time, but skated before the game, meaning he could be available when the Islanders conclude this two-game road trip against the Sabers on Friday night. . “Yes, absolutely,” coach Patrick Roy said when asked if Romanov’s skating was a good sign. . . Forward Pierre Engvall, in the second season of a seven-year, $21 million contract, was healthyally ruled out just three games after being recalled from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Logged 9:16 skating on the fourth line in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Ducks and took two penalties that led to power-play goals…Forward Oliver Wahlstrom remained healthy.

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.