This started in 1995 when player Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room before scoring two goals in a game. The moment was called a “rat trick,” and fans turned it into a ritual.

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 ...

According to DraftKings, the Oilers have the best odds to win the 2026 Cup at +650. It’s barely better than the Panthers at +700, but the Oilers are already being looked at as favorites.

Forward Scott Mellanby, who later became the team captain, used his stick to send it across the room and against a wall, igniting an odd tradition that has somehow stood the test of time.

With a 5-2 win in Game 5 on Saturday night in Edmonton, the Florida Panthers are now just one win away from back-to-back Stanley Cups. And just like last season, they'll have the chance to hoist Lord ...

The Florida Panthers began their existence hosting home games in Miami’s Overtown area. From their first home game on Oct. 12, 1993, through April 16, 1998, South Florida’s NHL team played at Miami ...

The Panthers went out and beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 that night. Mellanby scored a pair of goals with that same stick. “Scott Mellanby didn’t even have time to really tape his stick,” Lindsay said.

Fans throw rats onto the ice after the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

Right wing Scott Mellanby then grabbed his stick and one-timed the rat into the wall. The rodent went flying across the dressing room. It died as soon as it hit the wall.

When Brad Marchand was traded to Florida in March, it didn't take long for him to embrace Panthers fans' longstanding tradition of tossing plastic rats onto the ice after wins.

The Panthers went out and beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 that night. Mellanby scored a pair of goals with that same stick. "Scott Mellanby didn't even have time to really tape his stick," Lindsay said.

Mellanby scored a pair of goals with that same stick. “Scott Mellanby didn’t even have time to really tape his stick,” Lindsay said.