.
In The Departed, the overlying theme was that there were rats everywhere. Matt Damon was a rat in the police and Leonardo DiCaprio was a rat in the gang. In the 1995-96 NHL season, the finest the Panthers ever experienced, there were rats everywhere.
Prior to the home opener that season, Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the team's locker room by one-timing it against the wall. He later went out and scored two goals in a 4-3 defeat of Calgary. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck referred to the feat as a "Rat Trick."
Eventually, as the Panthers season progressed, fans began throwing plastic rats on the ice after each Panthers' goal. Utilizing the trap style that would unfortunately ruin the NHL for the better part of a decade, they faced the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals that season claiming the series 4-3. The Panthers won the seventh game when Tom Fitzgerald blew a slap shot by Tom Barrasso from approximately 3.9 kilometers away.
Not that we're bitter.
The Panthers would go on to the Stanley Cup Finals where the Colorado Avalanche swept them.
That's the last we've heard of them.
Pretty much since that time, the Panthers have been one of the NHL's irrelevant franchises. While Pavel Bure's last quality seasons did give the team star power, they have accomplished very little on or off the ice.
They have failed to reach the playoffs since 2000
Attendance is among the worst in the league.
They had perhaps the finest goaltender in the world in Roberto Luongo and traded him to Vancouver this past offseason for the headache otherwise known as Todd Bertuzzi. Luongo is a Vezina Trophy candidate now with Vancouver. Bertuzzi has played a total of seven games this season due to a back injury.
They might have the worst jerseys in the league.
In their 14 years of existence, they have drafted 10th or higher in the first round eight times.
The one thing they have managed to accomplish is ownership of the Penguins on the ice. The Penguins have not won a season series against the Panthers since 1998-99, when they were 4-1-0.
Jocelyn Thibault will start tonight for the Penguins.
Sidney Crosby scored his 50th career goal this season in rather stunning fashion on Dec. 5 in a 3-2 loss to the Panthers.
OUR FIRST MEAN COMMENT
Our great "Be Mean to Us Contest" failed miserably.
The only negative comment we got from a Flyers fan talking smack.
"Yes, the Flyers stink. This isn't news. Granted this is only going to be a one-year deal. We aren't turning into the Penguins. Our plan isn't to (be bad) for four or five years so we can get the top pick in the draft year after year. We will be right back in the playoffs next year. It makes me laugh how people are just praising the Penguins left and right but they seem to forget the fact that they (were bad) for the past four or five years. I lost count. Of course the team is going to be good when you get Crosby last year with the first pick, Staal at second, Malkin at second, Fleury as a No. 1 pick. A lot of teams would be good too. However, most managed to draft good and make the playoffs as well. I wonder why the Penguins couldn't do that. So enjoy bagging on the Flyers. We will be back kicking Sidney's butt in no time. Either Hatcher or even Eager can knock a few new teeth out for him." -- Sue Wolfe
EN: Hatcher better ditch his walker and learn to skate if he wants any chance at that. Plus he's still eating the boards from the Penguins-Flyers game on the Feb. 8 we think.
Reader Mary Jones was astute in reminding us that the reason the Flyers are on Versus so much is that both are owned by Comcast. So, Comcast gives us a horrible DVR and they also force us to watch Todd Fedoruk. Thanks guys.
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Exclusive: Alberta homeowner makes pitch to lure Penguins.
This is so sweet. You know at any time of day, at least seven or eight kids at that house. If you look closely in the second picture, there's a Calgary Flames fan in view. We're surprised no one made him take the jersey off given the owner's obvious devotion to the rival Oilers.
The Zamboni ice resurfacer that gentleman is using is the 100 model. It is designed to be attached to a John Deere.
Thanks to James Mirtle of the Toronto Globe and Mail for pointing it out.
OTHER NEWS
The Hurricanes will be with out Erik Cole for at least two weeks due to a hip injury.
St. Louis Blues Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachcuk are one of many players rumored to possible trade bait for the Penguins. The price is high though. Too high for a player you would keep for three months at most. A first-round pick and/or a prospect is what the Blues are looking for. If we had Ray Shero's ear, we'd say "Move along, nothing to see here."
Marco Sturm might be off the market now that the Bruins have snuck back into the playoff hunt.
A rare front-page story on ESPN.com concerning how vital the "Original Six" are to the overall health of the league.
First Published: February 22, 2007, 5:00 a.m.
