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Panthers celebrate Game 3 win in Edmonton with playful jab at Alberta's rat-free status
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    Panthers celebrate Game 3 win in Edmonton with playful jab at Alberta’s rat-free status

    Rats are invading Alberta for the first time in 74 years.

    But this time, they’re plastic.

    The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in Northern Alberta Thursday and one of the Panthers’ trademark symbols, a plastic rat, hit the ice after the win.

    Alberta has been rat-free since a provincial program was introduced in 1950 to combat the pest.

    The Panthers were quick to troll Oilers fans with a post on social media.

    The rat has been synonymous with the Panthers since the club’s first run to the Stanley Cup Final, in 1996. That season, forward Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room prior to the Panthers’ home opener and went on to score two goals in the game. Now, fans throw thousands of plastic rats on the ice after Panthers home wins during the playoffs.

    At least one of those rats made it north on Thursday. If the Panthers complete the sweep with a win in Game 4 on Saturday, you can expect plenty more rats to hit the ice in Edmonton.

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    The Florida Panthers are on a roll in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they made sure to have some fun after their Game 3 win in Edmonton. The team took to social media to celebrate their victory over the Edmonton Oilers with a playful jab at Alberta’s rat-free status.

    In a tweet posted after the game, the Panthers shared a photo of a rat wearing a tiny Panthers jersey and holding a miniature broom, symbolizing their sweep of the Oilers. The caption read, “Just a friendly reminder that Alberta is rat-free. #FlaPanthers #RatPack.”

    The playful jab is a nod to the Panthers’ tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice after a win, a tradition that dates back to their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. The team’s fans would throw rats onto the ice to celebrate goals, and the tradition has continued to this day.

    While Alberta may be rat-free, the Panthers are certainly not afraid to have some fun and stir up a little friendly rivalry. The tweet garnered plenty of attention on social media, with fans from both teams chiming in with their thoughts.

    The Panthers’ win in Game 3 puts them one step closer to advancing in the playoffs, and they are clearly feeling confident and having fun along the way. Whether or not Alberta has rats, one thing is for sure – the Panthers are on a mission to make some noise in the playoffs and they are not afraid to have a little fun while doing it.