New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe is looking to take the NHL to the Extreme (ok, he’s really not, but who can blame us for saying that, with our boss Paul Heyman about to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame?), as the 21 year old got into his third fight in his first five games. OK, maybe he is trying to take the NHL to the Extreme!
Rempe got into a fight with Philadelphia Flyers known bad ass Nicolas Deslauriers, 33, and scored the winning goal during a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. That was fight number four, and the one we’ll focus on for this feature.
For the record, Rempe fought again on Sunday, giving him three fights in his first five games.
Saturday, Deslauriers challenged him before the game as the two warmed up, Rempe told ABC, and he agreed.
Rempe’s first shift lasted nine seconds as the 6-foot-7, 241-pound Rempe and the 6-1, 220-pound Deslauriers dropped the gloves, sized each other up and went at it three minutes into the first period. The fight lasted an unusually long 37 seconds with several dozen punches thrown or landed.
Deslauriers eventually knocked Rempe to the ice, but the Flyers forward ended up with a cut on his forehead.
“We’re throwing bombs. Long tilt,” Rempe said. “He’s a great warrior, but I love it.”
Rempe’s game-winning goal came at 6:31 of the third period to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. He was screening Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson when Barclay Goodrow‘s deflection banked in off Rempe’s leg. Goodrow was originally listed as the scorer, but it was later changed to Rempe.
“Probably the ugliest first goal in NHL history, but I’ll take it,” Rempe said after the game. “It’s just unreal. I’m having a blast.”
The goal ended up being the winner as the Rangers extended their winning streak to a franchise-record 10 games.
“Very eventful first week. I’m loving it,” he told ABC. “I want to bring that physicality, that edge to the team, bring speed, fly in there, bang bodies, go to the net and I think I’m doing that. I’m having so much fun.”
Yup.
Hockey, to the Extreme!
