Minnesota Wild forward Justin Fontaine will likely miss the start of the season with an injury suffered in Thursday's preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The ailment does not stem from Blue Jackets forward David Clarkson's knee-on-knee hit, Wild head coach Mike Yeo told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Yeo said the injury occurred on a subsequent hit that Fontaine absorbed along the boards later in the game. Fontaine was diagnosed with a sore side after the contest.

Clarkson was not handed supplemental discipline for his hit on Fontaine.

Minnesota's lone remaining preseason game is Thursday at home against the Buffalo Sabres. The Wild open the regular season on Oct. 8 against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Fontaine scored nine goals and collected 22 assists in 71 games last season.