Emotions rise in Blue Jackets' return home

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Players from both teams wore heart-shaped stickers on the backs of their helmets that bore Brittanie Cecil's initials. The flags outside the arena were at half-staff.

Before the puck dropped Thursday night for Columbus' game against Detroit, there was a moment of silence for Brittanie, the 13-year-old girl who died after being hit by a puck during the Blue Jackets' previous home game.

"It's on lots of people's minds," Blue Jackets president and general manager Doug MacLean said. "I got an e-mail from Scotland, where they're having a moment of silence at a hockey game. All over the world. It's front-page news in Australia."

Brittanie died Monday, two days after a deflected shot by Columbus center Espen Knutsen struck her at Nationwide Arena. Her father bought the tickets to the game as an early present for her 14th birthday.

Toward the end of the first period Thursday night, Knutsen received a standing ovation after he failed to score on a breakaway on his first shot of the game.

Team's representative

MacLean will represent the Blue Jackets at Brittanie's funeral in her small hometown near Dayton. He said he got an inkling of how much people were grieving when he arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday night for the Blue Jackets game with the Wild.

MacLean said his driver from the airport mentioned how different the game would be and MacLean asked if he meant because the two teams are rivals.

"Oh, no. Because of the little girl," the driver said.

There was little about the game that was different from the 36 others that preceded it this year at Nationwide Arena. A reminder to spectators to watch out for flying pucks was read twice before the first three minutes of the game had elapsed.

The fans -- almost a 50-50 split of those rooting for the Red Wings and the Blue Jackets -- were as loud as at any other game. During the national anthem, several fans shouted, "Go Wings!"

Jeff Lagerquist drove two hours from Findlay along with his 8-year-old son. Lagerquist said he and his son frequently attend hockey games and he did not believe that there was much danger being a spectator.

"We take more of a chance driving our car down here," he said.

Still on their mind

Earlier in the day, the Blue Jackets players said they were thinking of the family even as they prepared for the NHL's best team.

"I can't imagine the grief they're going through at this time," goalie Ron Tugnutt said, referring to the girl's parents. "It has affected me, no doubt about it."

Most of the players have children of their own. They were shaken by the experience of witnessing the puck flying over the glass.

Wright, who has a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son, struggled to keep his composure.

"There's a bigger thing out there that we're really worried about," coach Dave King said. "For all the guys, I don't think hockey means very much today. That's just the way it is."