When the final horn sounded, hundreds of the rats were tossed to the ice, the toys bouncing and skidding along the surface as the Devils shuffled toward their dressing room and the Panthers surrounded goalie Jose Theodore — who made 30 saves for the shutout — in celebration. A few of the Panthers whacked at the rats with their sticks, an homage of sorts to Mellanby, now an assistant coach with St. Louis who still finds the rat frenzy "funny and creative."
He hasn't played for Florida in more than a decade, yet remains an icon with Panthers fans today, largely for one rat killing nearly two decades ago.
Wrote Mellanby on Twitter: "Have to be remembered for something I guess."
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