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Matt Rempe breaks his silence after getting tossed from the game
Matt Rempe finally spoke after last night's Big City Brawl. The atmosphere in the locker room was buzzing as a smiling Rempe strolled in, still riding the adrenaline high from last night's showdown.
That was a banger, he said , reflecting on the explosive line brawl that kicked off the NHL-leading New York Rangers' 4-3 victory over their Hudson River Rivals, the New Jersey Devils, sealing a clean 4-0 sweep of the season series.
According to Rempe, there was no need for pre-game planning – everyone knew what was coming.
We didn't need to discuss it during warmups. It was just understood that the fight was going down.
Describing the intensity of the faceoff, Rempe gave respect where it was due.
MacDermid was like, 'We're going right now.' I'm like, 'Yeah, I know. I think there's a reason why we're starting.
The anticipation was rising, setting the stage for the epic bout that ensued.
All fighters were ejected asde from Vesey and Lazar, who were ruled as the ones who started the melee, with everyone else escalating the proceedings.
That wasn't all as Will Cuylle and Dawson Mercer mixed things up a few minutes later.
Reflecting on his unexpected early exit from the game, Rempe quipped,
I thought I was going to have a good 5 minutes in the penalty box with the fellas. We were going to be cuddled up in there, getting cozy and having a good time... I had no idea that was a rule. I was like, 'Dang it. My TOI didn't go up that game.
Despite the ejections and penalties, Rempe marveled at the sheer strength of Kurtis MacDermid.
He's a real tough customer,
Rempe admitted.That guy is a big boy. Strong, been one of the toughest guys in the league for a long time, and he has his job to do. You gotta respect that.
When asked about standout performances from his teammates, Rempe loved defenseman K'Andre Miller's scrap.
I was watching back and I saw Key (K'Andre Miller). I was pretty fired up. That was pretty wicked. He did the little man (hand motion) or something like that. That was unbelievable.
Rempe's own statistics against the Devils tell a wild story, with three games, just over five minutes of total ice time, three ejections, and a whopping 47 penalty minutes, all while managing to maintain a positive rating.
It's safe to say Rempe brought the heat against the Devils – and then some.
More on Hockey Patrol:
Matt Rempe and seven players ejected after massive line brawl
Matt Rempe and seven players ejected after massive line brawl
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AVRIL 4 | 323 ANSWERS Matt Rempe breaks his silence after getting tossed from the game What was your reaction to Matt Rempe's comments about the line brawl and the game against the New Jersey Devils? | ||
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