Why do Florida Panthers fans throw plastic rats? Tradition's history, explained
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.
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.
Advertisement
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.'
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why do Panthers fans throw plastic rats after home wins?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
![2025 Libema Open: Pera [79th] vs. Cocciaretto [123rd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2Fauthoring%2Fimages%2FDataSkriveSportsbookWire%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2FSSBK%2F83116869007-14991234.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26crop%3D1199%2C676%2Cx0%2Cy73%26format%3Dpjpg%26width%3D1200&w=3840&q=100)
![2025 Libema Open: Pera [79th] vs. Cocciaretto [123rd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fusatoday.com.png&w=48&q=75)
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
2025 Libema Open: Pera [79th] vs. Cocciaretto [123rd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Libema Open: Pera [79th] vs. Cocciaretto [123rd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview In the Round of 16 at the Libema Open on Wednesday, Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ranked No. 123) faces Bernarda Pera (No. 79). Pera has -160 odds to win this match versus Cocciaretto (+125). Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 10:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Bernarda Pera vs. Elisabetta Cocciaretto matchup info Tournament: Libema Open Libema Open Round: Round of 16 Round of 16 Date: Wednesday, June 11 Wednesday, June 11 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Pera vs. Cocciaretto Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Pera has a 61.5% to win. Pera vs. Cocciaretto Betting Odds Pera's odds to win match: -160 -160 Cocciaretto's odds to win match: +125 +125 Pera's odds to win tournament: +2200 +2200 Cocciaretto's odds to win tournament: +2200 Pera vs. Cocciaretto matchup performance & stats In the the Roland Garros, Pera's previous tournament, she was defeated 6-7, 6-7 by No. 14-ranked Elina Svitolina on May 30 in the Round of 32. Cocciaretto has registered a 1-0 record on grass courts so far this year. On grass, Cocciaretto has won 83.3% of her service games and 30.8% of her return games. Cocciaretto has converted three of five break points on grass (60.0%), and is 30th in break points won. In the Roland Garros, Cocciaretto's most recent tournament, she played No. 20-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 64 on May 29 and was defeated 1-6, 3-6.
![2025 Libema Open: Blinkova [70th] vs. Alexandrova [19th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2Fauthoring%2Fimages%2FDataSkriveSportsbookWire%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2FSSBK%2F83117401007-16686351.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26crop%3D1199%2C675%2Cx0%2Cy0%26format%3Dpjpg%26width%3D1200&w=3840&q=100)
![2025 Libema Open: Blinkova [70th] vs. Alexandrova [19th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fusatoday.com.png&w=48&q=75)
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
2025 Libema Open: Blinkova [70th] vs. Alexandrova [19th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Libema Open: Blinkova [70th] vs. Alexandrova [19th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview On Wednesday, Ekaterina Alexandrova (No. 19 in the world) faces Anna Blinkova (No. 70) in the Round of 16 at the Libema Open. Alexandrova is favored (-325) against Blinkova (+240) in this Round of 16 match. Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 10:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Anna Blinkova vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova matchup info Tournament: Libema Open Libema Open Round: Round of 16 Round of 16 Date: Wednesday, June 11 Wednesday, June 11 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Blinkova vs. Alexandrova Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Blinkova has a 76.5% to win. Blinkova vs. Alexandrova Betting Odds Blinkova's odds to win match: +240 +240 Alexandrova's odds to win match: -325 -325 Blinkova's odds to win tournament: +1800 +1800 Alexandrova's odds to win tournament: +300 Blinkova vs. Alexandrova matchup performance & stats Blinkova has a match record of 1-0 on grass courts so far this year. On grass, Blinkova has a 75.0% winning percentage in service games and a 75.0% winning percentage in return games (six service games won out of eight, and six return games won out of eight on grass). Blinkova has won 60.0% of break points on grass (six out of 10, which ranks 15th). Blinkova was defeated in the Round of 128 of her last tournament (the Roland Garros) 5-7, 7-6, 1-6 by No. 19-ranked Donna Vekic on May 25. On June 2, Alexandrova lost to No. 2-ranked Coco Gauff, 0-6, 5-7, in the Round of 16 of her most recent tournament, the Roland Garros.
![2025 LTA London Championships: Muchova [14th] vs. Maria [86th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2Fauthoring%2Fimages%2FDataSkriveSportsbookWire%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2FSSBK%2F83116869007-14991234.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26crop%3D1199%2C676%2Cx0%2Cy73%26format%3Dpjpg%26width%3D1200&w=3840&q=100)
![2025 LTA London Championships: Muchova [14th] vs. Maria [86th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fusatoday.com.png&w=48&q=75)
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
2025 LTA London Championships: Muchova [14th] vs. Maria [86th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 LTA London Championships: Muchova [14th] vs. Maria [86th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview In the Round of 16 at the LTA London Championships on Wednesday, Tatjana Maria (ranked No. 86) faces Karolina Muchova (No. 14). Muchova is favored (-275) against Maria (+210) in this Round of 16 match. Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 10:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Karolina Muchova vs. Tatjana Maria matchup info Tournament: LTA London Championships LTA London Championships Round: Round of 16 Round of 16 Date: Wednesday, June 11 Wednesday, June 11 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Muchova vs. Maria Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Muchova has a 73.3% to win. Muchova vs. Maria Betting Odds Muchova vs. Maria matchup performance & stats