Florida Panthers penalized for too many rats on the ice

SHOCKING VIDEO: http://thehockeybuzz.com/100-of-the-greatest-hockey-videos Reveals The Raw Truth Hockey 10 Best NHL Fighters & Greatest Goal Scorers LIKE OUR PAGE” Share Video…

Playoff-chasing Panthers given two third-period penalties against the Devils because fans were tossing toy rats onto the ice despite warnings not to do so

Providing away 10,000 toy rats to fans as they showed up at the arena was supposed to be a promotion for the Florida Panthers.

It developed into an issue rather.

The Panthers were punished two times in the third duration of Thursdays 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils due to the fact that fans were tossing the rats on to the ice despite warnings not to do so. New Jersey didnt rating on either resulting power play, however that wasnt enough to keep Panthers star Jaromir Jagr from saying after the game that he wasnt happy with the situation.

I don’t really agree with the penalties, Jagr said after Florida moved back into top place and on the edge of clinching just the franchises 2nd playoff spot in the last 15 seasons. We can constantly state, hey, it was New Jersey fans throwing them, we ought to have the power play. Its too essential a game and its going to be more vital in the playoffs. I don’t think we ought to get two minutes for that. I think the league should find a solution for it.

Actually, the league threw down the gauntlet 2 decades ago.

The Panthers rat fad is a nod to the 1995-96 season, when as the oft-repeated story goes, Scott Mellanby killed a live one with his stick in the locker room of the teams previous arena before going out and scoring 2 goals. The toy rats began flying in celebration in the online games that followed, and after that season, the NHL altered its rules to say that teams could be examined minor charges for such outbursts.

And thats exactly what took place Thursday, twice.

It was a benefit for us to obtain those power plays on that, Devils coach John Hynes said. Sadly, we couldnt find a method making them pay a bigger cost for it. I believe its difficult for the gamers, for sure. There was a caution prior to it and it kept going. Difficult circumstance. I believe the fans were attempting to have fun and do their thing, however if we took advantage of a few those power plays its a little bit of a different video game.

Recently at Panthers home video games, the rats usually fly after wins. However with 10,000 of them distributed before the video game Thursday, there was issue that they may get thrown early.

Turned out, that concern was far from unfounded.

They called it like they were expected to call it, a visibly upset Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. Theres nothing they can do. When we toss things on the ice, its the guideline, its been the guideline for a long time, theyve learnt more about better. I sure hope it does not occur again Weve got to be smarter than that.

Gallant was asked if he would ask team management to refrain from doing such a giveaway in the future.

Thats not my department, Gallant stated. However like I said, I hope the fans comprehend that these are necessary video games and points for us. I hope they understand that you cant throw these rats till completion of the video game. It practically cost us this evening. Our men battled hard and we enjoy our fans and we love the rats, however I hope that does not happen again.

Jagrs fear is that it will occur once again, and not always by Florida fans.

If theyre going to offer us a penalty whenever somebody tosses a rat, then where are we going to play in the playoffs? Jagr said. Theyre simply going to employ some guy to toss rats and get power plays all online game. It doesn’t make good sense to me.

Check out more: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/01/florida-panthers-penalized-too-many-rats-on-the-ice