Atkinson, Johansen lead Blue Jackets split squad to 3-1 preseason win over Minnesota

Published January 13, 2015

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.

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.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/atkinson-johansen-lead-blue-jackets-split-squad-to-3-1-preseason-win-over-minnesota