Matt Rempe ejected for brutal elbow on Devils opponent in Rangers win

NHL bad boy Matt Rempe has lived up to his reputation once again after elbowing an opponent in a rivalry game against the New Jersey Devils, and the Rangers rookie’s career took a Lively 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 five-minute major 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 next challenged by New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid, but officials kept them apart.

He even taunted the Devils bench with a hand signal as he was being carried off the ice.

“I wish I could have gotten to him sooner and taught him a lesson,” said MacDermid, who suffered a 10-minute misconduct but remained in the game.

The 21-year-old rookie received a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the elbow.

‘There is a right way to do things and a wrong way. He’s a young kid in this league. He still has a lot to learn. You don’t do things like that especially when you’re in your first year in the league… You have to learn how to hit correctly 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 penalty for hitting the Devils’ Nathan Bastain in the first period that night. Siegenthaler and Rempe quarreled after hitting Bastain along the boards.

“I think there’s some intent to injure the player,” interim coach Travis Green said of Rempe’s hit on Siegenthaler in Monday’s game. Call it predator or whatever you want to call it. “It’s definitely not the first time it’s happened and the second time against us.”

Rempe exchanges words with Kurth MacDermid as he leaves the ice at Monday’s game

Devils leading scorer Jesper Bratt echoed his coach’s sentiments.

“I don’t like the hit,” he said. “It’s an elbow in the head. Obviously, you don’t want to see that.’

Rempe has already been ejected twice in addition to the four fights he has been involved in and Devils players have now called for the forward to be suspended for multiple games following Monday’s elbow hit.

The Rangers beat 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 take advantage of some really good opportunities,” Green said. “It was a tough loss against a good team.”