We’re one game through the preseason, but there’s still a lot to figure out before the first real action of the season. The Blackhawks have a day off now before going back-to-back against the Red Wings and Rangers, and hopefully we’ll have some more clarity on things after this week. Now for the news!
**Yes, yes, the Blackhawks beat the Red Wings in overtime, 2-1, last night. Not too shabby. (Second City Hockey)
**More importantly, Patrick Kane delivered this fantastic breakaway goal that made the whole night worthwhile (Second City Hockey)
**Well this is pretty much the worst case scenario for any team in the preseason. Carolina announced Jordan Staal suffered a broken leg in Tuesday’s game, meaning he’ll be out indefinitely. This is a major blow for a team already full of question marks. (Hurricanes)
**Details on the new EPIX production of a series running up to the 2015 Winter Classic. The main gist: if you have a good Internet connection, you’ll be able to access this. (Pro Hockey Talk)
**Brandon Mashinter says he wants to be than just a physical presence, and he’ll need to be if he wants to make the team (CSN Chicago)
**The Capitals revealed their vintage-inspired jerseys for the Winter Classic. Reaction has been mixed, and I’d say they’re a bit too noisy. Not a fan of those shoulder stripes. (Puck Daddy)
**Robin Lehner isn’t getting discouraged by the Senators naming Craig Anderson the top goaltender entering the season. The 23-year-old still has a bright future if things come together. (Ottawa Sun)
**Pavel Datsyuk will miss around a week for the Red Wings after suffering a shoulder injury. Between this and the news below, not a great start to the year for them. (Pro Hockey Talk)
**Detroit also didn’t have Darren Helm last night because he broke his nose against Pittsburgh (Pro Hockey Talk)
**A roundup of awards odds for the upcoming season. There’s some Kane, Toews, Sharp and others peppered in there. (Puck Daddy)
**Panthers ownership expects smaller crowds this season because fewer tickets are being given away by the franchise (Miami Herald)
**Count Sabres coach Ted Nolan as someone who hasn’t embraced analytics yet (Olean Times)
**The Lightning are being cautious with Jonathan Drouin, but his broken thumb won’t be a long-term issue (Tampa Tribune)
**Is the World Cup of Hockey returning in 2016? (Puck Daddy)