Isles reflects on the late Gaudreau prior to the first game against the Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Islanders charter team approached Columbus very early in the morning Wednesday and Ryan Pulock’s thoughts were naturally focused on the late Gaudreau brothers and their family.

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

“I don’t think it’s possible not to (think about them),” the defender said before the confrontation. “Even when I arrived last night, it was going through my head. We will certainly be thinking of him and the family tonight and now that we are here, that becomes clear. There will certainly be times when he comes to mind throughout the night.

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

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

“That 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 Team USA teammate for the World Championships.

“You play at the World Championships and you meet a lot of guys and see a lot of guys you’ve played against. And then there are also opportunities to have some fun. We had some fun evenings 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 as I get to know Johnny.

Center Brock Nelson was also Johnny Gaudreau’s Team USA teammate at the World Championships.

“He was just a happy guy,” Nelson said. “Really gentle, reserved, just quiet and went about his business. He was a great teammate and friend to a lot of guys. As a hockey player he meant a lot. Furthermore, he was a brother, husband, father and son and he was just a good guy.

“He comes from a great family. It’s just a terrible situation and tragedy. You give the family your best thoughts and prayers and it’s just 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 I come back there will probably bring back a lot of memories and different emotions.” Nelson said. “Just give the family everything you 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 for the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

“It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” Horvat said. “It’s so tragic and terrible. But the way the hockey community has come together – and I’ve seen some videos of how strong his wife and his family have been – is incredible. It’s terrible 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, on the ice with them for practices.

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