FILE - In this March 6, 2015, file photo, Lance Mackey prepares his sled at the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska. The Iditarod Trail Committee on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, announced that Mackey, a four-time champion, will not participate in the 2017 race because of health problems. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
FILE - In this March 6, 2015, file photo, Lance Mackey prepares his sled at the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska. The Iditarod Trail Committee on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, announced that Mackey, a four-time champion, will not participate in the 2017 race because of health problems. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File) Credit: Mark Thiessen

Boston — Sam Gagner’s shootout goal gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 3-2 win over Boston on Monday night in the Bruins’ NHL preseason opener.

Sonny Milano and Daniel Zaar scored first-period goals for the Blue Jackets, who played their third preseason game in two days.

Curtis McElhinney made 29 saves on 31 shots in 64:30.

Jimmy Hayes and Danton Heinen scored for Boston. Heinen’s goal in the third period tied it 2-2.

Anton Khudobin made 11 saves on 13 shots in 39:55 for the Bruins before being replaced by Zane McIntyre. McIntyre stopped eight shots in the third period and overtime.

NFL FootballFalcons 45, Saints 32

New Orleans — Tevin Coleman rushed for three touchdowns, Matt Ryan passed for two TDs, and Deion Jones returned an interception 90 yards for a score to help Atlanta beat winless New Orleans.

The game was played nearly 10 years to the day after the Saints’ memorable return to the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, 13 months after Hurricane Katrina. But there would be no reprise of New Orleans’ dominant and emotional 23-3 triumph a decade ago.

The Saints’ depleted defense struggled to slow down Devonta Freeman, who rushed for 152 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards. Coleman also was effective in the passing game out of the backfield, with three receptions for 47 yards to go with his 42 yards rushing.

Greg Hardy Arrested Again

Dallas — Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy, who remains unsigned after a tumultuous 2015 season revolving around his domestic violence case in North Carolina, was arrested on a cocaine possession charge in Texas.

Hardy was booked early Monday and later released on $5,000 bond in the Dallas suburb of Richardson on a charge of possession of a controlled substance of less than one gram, jail spokesman Tim Weed said.

The 28-year-old Hardy signed with Dallas as a free agent last year after Carolina decided not to bring him back as a result of the domestic violence case.

Hardy was suspended for the first four games last season over the domestic incident, and his production with the Cowboys dropped off considerably after photos of bruised ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder were posted by Deadspin.

IditarodFour-Time ChampMackey Won’t Race

Anchorage, Alaska — Four-time Iditarod champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey has dropped out of next year’s nearly 1,000-mile race for health reasons, organizers said Monday.

Mackey said in an email to the Iditarod Trail Committee that his withdrawal from the 2017 race across Alaska came with hopes to take better care of his health so he can be ready to compete again in 2018, marshal Mark Nordman told The Associated Press.

The email was sent Sept. 21, but the employee who handles that correspondence was out, and Mackey was officially withdrawn Monday, the same day the committee announced the withdrawal, Nordman said.

College FootballMiles: I Didn’t Fight Firing

Baton Rouge, La. — Les Miles says he didn’t fight for his job when LSU fired him, but he doesn’t think he is ready to be done with coaching.

The 62-year-old Miles spoke to “The Dan Patrick Show” on Monday, a day after being let go by LSU. The Tigers fell to 2-2 after a last-second loss at Auburn on Saturday.

Miles says he was informed face-to-face of the decision by LSU athletic director Joe Alleva. He said, “I accepted that outcome, and I will support this decision and these Tigers as we go forward.”

Miles added that he is not ready to retire, saying “I would have a difficult time not being involved in the game and not being a coach.”

In 12-plus-seasons at LSU, Miles won 114 games and a national championship.