The Stanley Cup Final is shifting to the Florida Panthers’ home arena in Sunrise, Florida, for Games 3 and 4.
And that means the return of the barrage of plastic rats being thrown onto the ice after a Panthers victory at Amerant Bank Arena.
The team also is embracing the rat legend for Game 3 by putting towels on each seat that read, ‘Rats Rule.’
An octopus (representing the eight wins once needed to win the Stanley Cup) occasionally lands on the ice during Detroit Red Wings games. Nashville Predators fans sometimes sneak in a catfish and toss it on the ice. And, of course, the ice gets littered with hats when someone scores a three-goal hat trick.
But why plastic rats? Here’s a look at the history:
Origin of plastic rats at Panthers games
It stems from the 1995-96 season when Florida’s Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the old Miami Arena. He scored two goals that night, which a teammate called a “rat trick.”
Fans picked up on the story and started throwing plastic rats on the ice after the Panthers scored goals that season, a magical one in which the team went to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final in the franchise’s third year of existence.
The Panthers were swept in the championship round with Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy telling teammates ‘no more rats’ after he gave up a goal in Game 3. He shut out the Panthers the rest of the way, including a 1-0 triple-overtime win in Game 4.
The NHL, which didn’t appreciate the long cleanup needed after each Panthers goal, changed rules that offseason to make throwing items on the ice after a goal subject to a delay of game penalty. So now rats get tossed after victories.
Panthers championship rings
When the Panthers won their first Stanley Cup title last season, they included a rat on their championship rings.
Brad Marchand adds to the history
The Panthers acquired Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins in March in a shocking move at the trade deadline.
He has played a big role in the team’s playoff success, including the double-overtime goal in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers.
His nickname is Rat, so teammates shoot plastic rats at his legs before he leaves the ice after a win.
‘Rats Rule’ towels
The ‘Rats Rule’ towels that are going on every seat for Game 3 have a special touch, per TSN.
Hidden on the towels are the logos of the three teams – Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes – that the Panthers defeated to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3
Date: Monday, June 9
Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: TNT, truTV
Streaming: Max, Sling TV
(This story was updated to add new information.)