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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
NEW YORK — The New Jersey Devils believe New York Rangers rookie Matt Rempe should be further disciplined for his elbow to the head of defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, which earned Rempe a major penalty and a game misconduct on Monday night.
“I think there’s some intent there to injure the player,” said Devils interim coach Travis Green after their 3-1 loss to the Rangers.
Rempe was ejected with 30 seconds left in the second period. Siegenthaler held up near the red line after shooting the puck into the attacking zone. Rempe skated towards him and stretched his left arm to connect with Siegenthaler’s head. The on-ice officials conferred, reviewed the play and confirmed that Rempe had earned a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct.
Siegenthaler did not return for the third period and Green said “he’s not doing great” when asked about his status.
The Department of Player Safety reviews every major penalty for potential supplemental discipline.
“Everyone who knows the game at all knows that [Siegenthaler] is in a vulnerable spot. Call it predatorial or whatever you want to call it. It’s definitely not the first time that it’s happened [for Rempe] and it’s the second time against us,” said Green.
This is Rempe’s second game misconduct in as many meetings against the Devils in his 10-game NHL career. On Feb. 22, Rempe was given a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Devils forward Nathan Bastian just 2:22 into the first period. Since that game, the Devils acquired enforcer Kurtis MacDermid in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on March 1.
MacDermid tried to engage Rempe in a fight a few times during the game on Monday night, with Rempe refusing. After the hit on Siegenthaler, MacDermid dropped his gloves to fight Rempe and again was rebuked, with the on-ice officials also stepping in.
“I asked him. There’s a bit of a code. I thought he would’ve answered that. I don’t know what he was told, but he said ‘no.’ And after a hit like that [on Bastian], it kind of goes without saying you should answer the bell in some way and be a man about it,” said MacDermid. “Then he throws another hit that gets him kicked out and with a possible suspension. So there’s a right way to go about things and the wrong way.”
For trying to fight Rempe following the hit on Siegenthaler, MacDermid given a 10-minute misconduct. As he was being led off the ice by the linesmen, Rempe taunted MacDermid by waving goodbye to him.
“He’s a young kid. He has a lot to learn still. You don’t do things like that when you’re in your first year in the league. I lost quite a bit of respect for him tonight,” said MacDermid.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette felt that Rempe (4:48 in total ice time) had played a strong game until that point, including setting a screen in front of Devils goalie Kaapo Kahkonen that led to their second goal.
“He was just tracking the hit. I don’t want to comment too much on it until I see the hit again. I only saw it once live. But I hope Siegenthaler’s OK,” said Laviolette.
Rempe has quickly become one of the most divisive players in the NHL during his brief career in the league. He’s stands at 6-foot-7 and plays a physical game. Rangers fans have chanted his name at Madison Square Garden, as Rempe has become a cult hero despite not seeing the ice that often.
Through the win over the Devils on Monday, Rempe nearly has as many penalty minutes (54) as minutes played (56:28) in his NHL career. He debuted in the Rangers’ MetLife Stadium Series win over the New York Islanders on Feb. 18, fighting on his first NHL shift in that game.
He’s had spirited fights in three other games, rekindling a league-wide debate about fighting’s place in the NHL. He’s been ejected from two games for illegal hits, both against the Devils, but didn’t receive any supplemental discipline for the hit on Bastian.
MacDermid believes Rempe should receive something from the league for the hit on Siegenthaler.
“Oh yeah, of course. He’s a huge guy and he’s throwing his elbows around like that. You’ve got to learn how to hit properly and not injure players,” he said.