Atkinson glad to be back after injury, illness

Right wing Cam Atkinson returned to the Blue Jackets’ lineup Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators, skating with the same linemates he started the season with — Alexander Wennberg and Artemi Panarin.

“It’s never fun to be out,” Atkinson said before the Blue Jackets’ 3-1 loss. “I’m definitely excited to get going and battle with the boys.”

He had four shots on goal in 23 minutes and 45 seconds of playing time.

Atkinson, who was activated from injured reserve Tuesday, played for the first time in five games following a lowerbody injury Oct. 28 at St. Louis and then flu-like symptoms that kept him from going on the threegame trip. Atkinson said his injury was “definitely minor,” but not the 102degree fever he woke up with last Tuesday.

“I was literally in bed for three days — I couldn’t get out of bed,” said Atkinson, adding that he lost eight pounds.

Atkinson skated in pregame warmups Oct. 30 against the Boston Bruins, but “thought it was probably for the best to hold myself out.” He said he would have played Thursday at Florida had he not gotten sick. While the team was gone, Atkinson skated with a skills coach a few times, including an hour Monday, during which “I felt back to my standards.”

Atkinson’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jackets, who will be without center Lukas Sedlak (high-ankle sprain) and wing Matt Calvert (upperbody injury) for another three to four weeks. The team’s leading scorer last season with career highs in goals (35), assists (27) and points (62), Atkinson tallied four goals and one assist the first 11 games of this season. He said he’s at his best when he’s playing hard and with swagger.

“As long as I’m getting opportunities, I’m going to start burying them,” said Atkinson, who was on a line with Boone Jenner and center Brandon Dubinsky prior to getting hurt. “I thought before I got hurt and got the flu that I was getting opportunities. I’m excited to get back at it. I’m going to shoot the puck a lot.”

Quick hits

Joonas Korpisalo got his fourth start in goal and first action in five games Tuesday. … Gabriel Carlsson saw his first action in 12 games as the Jackets went with seven defensemen. With Carlsson and Atkinson in the lineup, forwards Markus Hannikainen and Zac Dalpe were healthy scratches.