Beyond inspiring the “Year of the Rat,” Scott Mellanby’s 70 points led the 1995-1996 Panthers team.

Mike Hough joined the Panthers in the expansion draft and was with the team during their legendary 1996 playoffs run. During his four seasons with the Panthers, he likely used this stick to notch some ...

Marti Huizenga, the wife of team founder and former owner H. Wayne Huizenga, was one of the most dedicated Panthers fans of all time. During the 1996 postseason, Mrs. Huizenga reportedly smuggled doze ...

Rob Niedermayer struggled against the boards in this Stanley Cup playoff match against the Colorado Avalanche.

Rob Niedermayer skated near center ice with the puck in this Stanley Cup Final game against the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. He had five goals and three assists in the playoffs that season.

The Miami Arena was the scene of the young team’s memorable run in the 1996 playoffs, also known as the “Year of the Rat.” Fans enjoyed countless beverages in these concessions cups while witnessing e ...

Orkin Rat Patrol members filled buckets to the brim with plastic pests, a regular practice during the 1995-1996 season when Panthers fans threw rats onto the ice to celebrate goals. The tradition was ...

Members of the Orkin Rat Patrol were fully equipped — hard hats and all — to clear the ice of hundreds of plastic rats, which were thrown in celebration by fans whenever the Panthers scored a goal dur ...

Pest control company Orkin became a Panthers sponsor during the 1995-1996 season, rolling out a Rat Patrol crew to clear plastic “pests” thrown onto the ice during games, especially those in the posts ...

Rat Patrol to the rescue! During the 1995-1996 season, and especially during the playoffs, fans enthusiastically tossed plastic rats onto the ice when the Panthers scored goals. The Rat Patrol, sponso ...