Successful Debut for Predators

The Nashville Predators made their NHL debut Saturday night, beating the Florida Panthers, 4-2, in an exhibition game played at Huntsville, Ala. Marian Cisar scored the Predators’ first goal and Jamie Heward scored the eventual winning goal on a breakaway 4:53 into the third period. Huntsville’s 8,500-seat civic center was about one-third filled at the start of the game. . . . Rookie Todd White, who tied for the International Hockey League’s goal-scoring lead last season with 46, scored twice as the Chicago Blackhawks rolled to a 9-4 exhibition victory over the St. Louis Blues at Chicago.