Atkinson, Johansen lead Blue Jackets split squad to 3-1 preseason win over Minnesota
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cam Atkinson and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist, and a Columbus Blue Jackets split squad beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 in a preseason game Tuesday night.
Mark Letestu also scored for the Blue Jackets, who got 20 saves from Jeremy Smith.
Nino Niederreiter scored for Minnesota, which played its preseason opener.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Johansen gave Columbus a 1-0 lead with 1:51 left in the first period, scoring on a rebound after Michael Chaput was stopped on a breakaway out of the penalty box. Atkinson put a rebound behind Niklas Backstrom at 4:23 of the second, and Letestu made it 3-0 at 7:53 with a wrist shot from the left circle.
Niederreiter knocked in a rebound of Charlie Coyle's shot for a power-play goal in the second. Backstrom stopped seven shots before being replaced by Darcy Kuemper midway through the game. Kuemper also made seven saves.