The kid can do more than throw a punch.
While this is something the Rangers already knew about 21-year-old Matt Rempe, it perhaps came as a bit of a revelation to the Capitals in Sunday’s Game 1 playoff loss to Rempe and the Rangers at the Garden.
Rempe not only scored a goal in his first career playoff game, but he displayed some notable discipline as well, not allowing himself to be suckered into any unnecessary fights by the Capitals as they tried all they could to bait the Rangers’ rookie.
As impressive as Rempe’s goal that gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second period was the discipline he would display later.
The Rangers had the game well in hand and time was bleeding away for the Capitals, who were being outplayed and outcoached by the deeper and more talented Presidents’ Trophy winners.
All Washington had left was the final few minutes of the third period to bait their superior opponent into a few endgame statement scraps.
Of course, Washington’s primary target was the object of the Garden’s affection at the moment: the 6-foot-8 ¹/₂ happy-go-lucky Rempe, who was basking in the 18,006 home fans chanting his name every time the blades of his skates hit the ice for his 14 shifts.
So, trailing 3-1 with about six minutes remaining, Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath got into Rempe’s grill and began jawing at him, trying to lure him into a fight.
Rempe and McIlrath have a history, having exchanged fisticuffs in an AHL game last season.
On this occasion, though, Rempe slowly back-skated away from McIlrath with a big smile on his face.
“With regard to ‘Remp,’ we talk to him and he has a game plan every game,’’ Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Monday in advance of Tuesday’s Game 2 at the Garden. “I liked the work he did at the end of the night. If you’re undisciplined, there’s a good chance you’ll lose. So, you have to walk that line. That’s a fine line to walk. Discipline always factors into that — especially in the playoffs.’’
Rempe, whom the officials clearly had a close eye on Sunday afternoon, was called for a questionable charging penalty just 2:07 into the game on a play that looked like a proper check of Washington’s Beck Malenstyn into the boards.
“The ‘Remp’ [penalty] I thought was just hockey,’’ Laviolette said. “Remp’s a physical guy, he’s going to be banging out there. It’s almost like you’re drawn to him by the way he skates and the way he plays. We need him to play his game. I didn’t go up to him [after the penalty] and say, ‘Back off.’
“At the end of the game, [he had] instructions. He was heading out on the ice and we gave a little bit of instruction just to finish the game and make sure we all make it back out of there.’’
Rempe followed instructions perfectly, right to the end.
“If you’re talking about his entire game [Sunday] night, I thought it was excellent,’’ Laviolette said.
“Just a big physical kid who brings energy [and] looks he can skate all right for his size,’’ Washington coach Spencer Carbery said Monday. “Credit to him. He had an impact in his first playoff game.’’
Rempe’s impact is infectious, inside his own dressing room and to the outside world of Rangers fans, who are treating him like a rock star.
“When Matt steps on the ice he puts extra juice in the building,” Laviolette said after the game Sunday. “I can’t think of a player that’s come in and have that impact on a team, on a fan base, on a city.’’
On Monday, Laviolette was still raving about his rookie.
“He’s got a smile wherever he goes,’’ Laviolette said. “He loves the game, loves being here, loves his teammates, loves New York. When we have an optional [skate practice], he’s out there every single day working on his game, trying to get better. And he has gotten better since he’s been here.”
Rempe’s linemate Jimmy Vesey, who fed him the puck from behind the Washington net on his goal, said, “When he’s in the lineup, he has an effect on the rest of us.’’
Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson on Monday called Rempe “fun to watch.’’
“We know what he can do on the ice, too,’’ Gustafsson said, referring to Rempe’s hockey skills versus his fighting prowess. “He played a hell of a game [Sunday]. I like his physicality. We’ve seen that ever since he came up, and we know what he can do. He always brings it every shift he’s out there. He’s good for this team. He’s doing a lot — not just fighting.’’
No argument there.
