Second-year wing Cam Atkinson is out of the lineup Saturday night for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Chicago Blackhawks, and his absence might not be a brief one.
Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards told Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch of the Atkinson injury, "This could be a week or two weeks." Atkinson missed time during training camp with a lower-body injury, and he did not play Thursday in a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Atkinson is one of Columbus' top young forwards and began this season on the top line. He has eight goals and 15 points in 30 career NHL games, and boasts an impressive scoring record at the American Hockey League level (49 goals in 89 games).
Portzline (@Aportzline) also reported on Twitter that Steve Mason will be in net for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped three straight after winning their opener against the Nashville Predators. Mason yielded five goals on 42 shots in a 5-1 loss Wednesday to the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Blackhawks are the only 4-0-0 team in the NHL. Corey Crawford will be in net for Chicago, according to multiple reports.