- The 21-year-old center even mocked the Devils bench as he was led off the ice
- Devils players have called for Rempe to be suspended for multiple games
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NHL bad boy Matt Rempe has once again lived up to his reputation after elbowing an opponent in a rivalry game against the New Jersey Devils, with the Rangers rookie’s career off to an animated start with four fights in seven games.
With 30 seconds left in the second period of Monday night’s game, the 21-year-old center was assessed a stiff five-minute penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler.
Rempe, who has become a fan favorite since his debut on February 18, was then challenged by New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid, but officials kept them separated.
He even mocked the Devils bench with a hand gesture as he was led off the ice.
“I wish I could have come to him sooner and taught him a lesson,” said MacDermid, who was given a 10-minute misconduct but stayed in the match.
Rangers center Matt Rempe with a chicken wing on the Devils defenseman in the second period
The 21-year-old rookie was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the elbow
‘There’s a right way to do things and a wrong way. He’s a young guy in this league. He still has a lot to learn. You don’t do things like that when you’re in your first year in the league, especially… You have to learn how to hit well and not injure players.”
Rempe recorded 17 penalty minutes and 13 seconds of ice time in New Jersey on February 22 in his third NHL game. He received a match penalty for his hit on Nathan Bastain of the Devils in the first period that evening. Siegenthaler and Rempe fought along the boards after the goal on Bastain.
“I think there is some intent to injure the player,” interim coach Travis Green said of Rempe’s goal on Siegenthaler in Monday’s game. “Call it predatory or whatever you want to call it. It’s certainly not the first time this has happened and the second time against us.”
Rempe exchanged words with Kurth MacDermid as he went off the ice in Monday’s game
Devils top scorer Jesper Bratt echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“I don’t like the hit,” he said. ‘It’s an elbow to the head. Obviously you don’t want to see that.’
Rempe has already been sent off twice following the four fights he was involved in and Devils players have now called for the forward to be suspended for multiple games following Monday’s elbow bump.
The Rangers defeated the Devils 3-1. New Jersey has now lost for the eighth time in 11 games and for the third time in four games under Green, who replaced Lindy Ruff on March 4.
“We didn’t convert some really good chances,” Green said. “It was a tough loss against a good team.”