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Bettman: Throwing items on ice is 'dangerous'

NEW YORK -- Attention, Florida Panthers fans: Throwing those toy rats on the ice during a game means drawing the ire of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Days after fans in Philadelphia threw light-up wristbands onto the ice during a Flyers playoff loss, Bettman said the league strongly discourages throwing anything onto the ice except for hats to celebrate a hat trick.

That includes playoff traditions of faux rats in Florida and real octopi in Detroit.

"Putting aside the hat trick, we don't think it's a good idea for fans to be throwing things on the ice for a whole host of reasons.