This is bigger than a game.
Proceeding an exhibition game on Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets will be locking arms with members of the Boston Bruins during the National Anthem, per a statement from its players:
This statement came on Tuesday evening after the club's arrival in Toronto the day prior. The Blue Jackets are preparing for the Qualifying Round which begins for the boys in blue on Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs - but it clearly hasn't taken their minds off of the real world around them.
This game between Columbus and Boston will be the first played by either team since the NHL season's suspension in early March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and both of these teams, along with many others, are choosing to show attentive priority to global issues first and foremost.