Editors' Note: The Florida Panthers announced on Monday that they will no longer sell rats at their team store inside the arena in an attempt to avoid receiving a delay of game penalty. 

The Florida Panthers returned to the postseason party this season, and so did the rats.

As became tradition back in 1996 at the now-demolished Miami Arena, fans have taken to throwing rats on the ice to celebrate Panthers wins. By now you all know it started with Scott Mellenby killing a rat in the dressing room before a game and then leading the Panthers to a win that day. The Panthers went on to the Stanley Cup Finals that season.

Well once again the rats are flying from the rafters after games, like this scene following Florida's 3-0 win over the Devils in Game 5.

It's been so long since the Panthers have been here that this tradition almost went by the way side. It sounds like New Jersey Devils goaltender almost wishes it had.

Brodeur was asked by Bergen Record beat writer Tom Gulitti about the rats flying onto the ice and, well, Marty isn't too appreciative.

"I have respect for the fans and what people come to learn about their own teams and do their own traditions," Brodeur said. "You've got it with Detroit [and throwing an octopus on the ice during playoff games] and they solved that pretty good. This, it's a pain. Even if you look at the reaction of some of the Panthers' players, some of them are kind of shaking their heads about it. Just for the NHL to let them give out rats, come on. That’s unbelievable.

"I understand traditions. I'm a big believer in that. I think it's great for the fans that they associate themselves with rats. But, it's kind of a pain when you play."

To clarify, the Panthers don't give the rats away, they sell them for $5 a pop in the team store. In a somewhat brilliant money-making idea, they then re-sell the rats they collect after each game.

But one problem here is that they aren't coming just after the games despite the pleas from the Panthers. Watch the above video and notice the rats coming down before the game is over. They have shown up after Panthers goals and even once or twice before faceoffs.

If the rats come down during the game, the team is supposed to incur a delay of game penalty, so that's why Panthers CEO Mike Yormark is begging the fans to heed the warnings.

It's a great tradition, one of the best ones in hockey for my money. It has a great backstory and is a truly unique tradition. I love that a market that struggles to keep its hockey inroads has something like this, it's good for the franchise.

But imagine if the referees are put into a situation to call a penalty on the Panthers in a key game? The Panthers will play at least one more game at home, they guaranteed that with the win in Game 5. Can you imagine the fans putting the team on the penalty kill in a Game 7? This is Yormark's and other fans' nightmare.

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