Cats Win First Preseason Game

    The Florida Panthers played the first game of a doubleheader at BB&T Center in Sunrise on Monday afternoon and defeated the Nashville Predators 6-3. Both teams will face each other in the second game tonight.
    Kevin Henderson quickly scored for Nashville just 44 seconds into the first period for a 1-0 lead. Scottie Upshall tied it 1-1 on the power play for the Cats at 6:01. The Predators regained the lead as Filip Forsberg scored at 7:39. They extended their margin to 3-1 as Shea Weber put the puck in the net on a power-play goal with 33 seconds remaining in the first period.
    Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson scored the only two goals of the second period by either team. He blasted a right-point shot at 14:14 and then tied the game at 3-3 with 1:47 to go in the frame on a power-play goal.
    The Cats came through with three goals in the third period and shut down the Predators. Newcomer Brad Boyes scored in the crease area at 12:44 as the Panthers took their first lead of the game. Upshall connected with his second game of the game just 39 seconds later. Quinton Howden capped it with a tally with 4:21 left in the game.
    Florida outshot their opponent 41-21 and were 2-for-6 on the power play. Nashville was 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 13 of 16 shots for the Cats while Rob Madore held the Preds scoreless on five shots and picked up the win in net. Scott Darling took the loss as he allowed three goals in 20 shots while Marek Mazanec surrendered three goals on 21 shots.