In an attempt to assist Cali Flames Fan who has done such a great job on these threads, I submit the following, originally posted on RoughingAfterTheWhistle.com -
The team they threw rats at
The once toothless Florida Pantless became THE Florida Panthers during their Glory Year. A year when a team full of grinders like Brian Skrudland and Pieface Lowery and a young Rhettzky Warrener made an improbable Cup run. Led by coach Doug McLean, holding the last job he would ever be qualified for, it rained plastic rats on them on the ice after Mellanby scored the immortal Rat trick in the dressing room. Stuff of Legend
From that point on the franchise has sunk to the bottom of the standings and bumped along there ever since. Always picking second or third when a stud was at number one. Getting good but not great players. They somehow let their own state rivals swoop in and get Stamkos. They even tried a vet dump, when Talon cleaned house and went and bought a new set of vets, older, more expensive, and some still there getting big bucks for little back.
Yet even a blind man hits the urinal once in a while and they have managed to accumulate a whole bunch of really good young guys. All they needed was a goalie. Enter the new Bobby-Lou, refreshed from a narrow escape from purgatory, and suddenly they are a team competing for a spot in the East.
Last night the king of Twitter-sling had his triumphant return to fish land and his young team brought it all to get thier man a victory. So hopefully they burned a lot of emotion and energy and will come with Inagoal Montoya and tired legs.
I think we are all looking forward to seeing Mono and Backs in their new centre spots. The team needs this win tonight and ....yada yada yada.
Just do it Boyz!
Go Flames GO!
(swamp it Florida!)