The roots of the hurling of octopi at Detroit Red Wings playoff games go back to the 1950s.
It began as a symbolic offering to ensure a bountiful harvest season for the octopus farmers of Detroit—or as an eight-tentacle salute to the eight postseason wins once required to win the Stanley Cup. Scholars maintain its true meaning has been lost to the sands of time.
In any case, the octopus emerged again in Rock City as the Red Wings hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 4 of their Stanley Cup playoff series on Thursday night.