SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – After a long lockout, South Floridians were hungry for hockey. It’s no surprise, then, that the Florida Panthers have sold out two games this season.

The team is seeing an average of 18,211 fans per home game, according to Sunrise Sports & Entertainment records which appeared in the South Florida Business Journal.

The team’s average attendance is up from 16,191 fans per home game during the same time last year.

The Florida Panthers opened the 2012-13 NHL season in front of a sellout crowd of 19,688 – the largest opening night crowd in franchise history, according to a news release.

However, the team has had a rough start to their season at the Sunrise-based BB&T Center. The Cats have lost four out of five games, including three at home.

The Florida Panthers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

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