Hurricanes' Jordan Staal breaks leg in preseason game

The apparent knee injury Jordan Staal suffered during the Carolina Hurricanes preseason game on Tuesday is actually a broken bone in the lower part of his right leg, according to the team.

Staal is returning to Raleigh, N.C., to be evaluated by the Hurricanes medical staff on Thursday, when the team hopes to determine the severity of the injury.

Hurricanes coach Bill Peters was hoping for the best after the game, but he probably could have chosen his words better.

"I'm concerned for sure. He's a big piece of what we're going to do moving forward," Peters told The Associated Press. "Hopefully we catch a break here."