Overview
- Brad Marchand, traded from Boston in March, quipped before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final that he hoped to get rats thrown at him and was greeted with toy rodents after Florida’s 6–1 win over Edmonton.
- The tradition dates back to the Panthers’ 1995–96 opener when Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room and scored two goals with the same stick, inspiring fans to toss toy rats onto the ice.
- After an early surge of thrown rats prompted the NHL to fine in-game celebrations, the league still permits fans to hurl plastic rodents onto the ice following victories.
- Panthers supporters and alumni credit the ritual with fostering a unique atmosphere in South Florida, and rat-themed merchandise remains widely available across Miami and beyond.
- As Florida makes its third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, the rat-throwing practice endures as a touchstone of the team’s identity and fan engagement.