Panthers beat Predators in split-squad game

Brad Boyes didn't hurt his chances of winning a job by scoring the go-ahead goal with 7:16 remaining in regulation as the Florida Panthers notched a 6-3 victory against the Nashville Predators in the opening game of a split-squad doubleheader.

Boyes signed a tryout agreement with the Panthers last week after failing to find a new home following a 35-point season with the New York Islanders in 2012-13.

"My linemates did a good job of getting the puck back," Boyes said. "We just outworked them to get that goal."

Scottie Upshall and rookie Quinton Howden added insurance goals for the Panthers, who overcame a 3-1 deficit. Defenseman Eric Gudbranson got the Panthers even with a pair of second-period goals.

"I think we got away from our game and we turned too many pucks over," Predators coach Barry Trotz said of his team's inability to hold the lead. "When you turn too many pucks over, you end up spending too much time in your own end. We also took too many penalties and that was really taxing. We hit a wall in the second period because we've had a real hard camp and we've pushed these guys to extremes. We just didn't have any legs in the third period and it showed."