Matt Rempe suspended 4 games for Rangers
Matt Rempe was suspended four games by NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday. The New York Rangers rookie will miss his first game Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes and is eligible to return March 19 when they host the Winnipeg Jets.
Rempe was suspended for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in New York’s 3-1 win at Madison Square Garden on Monday. He was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for the hit, which took place late in the second period.
“Recognizing he might miss his hit entirely, Rempe raises his elbow up and into the head of Siegenthaler’s head with force, causing an injury,” Department of Player Safety explained Tuesday afternoon. “Rempe is clearly committed to throwing a check on this play and having ended up at angle of approach that will take him across Siegenthaler’s body and possibly miss Siegenthaler entirely, Rempe chooses to flare his elbow both up and away from his body in dangerous fashion, driving it directly into the head of Siegenthaler with substantial force.”
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Rangers forward Matt Rempe suspended four games
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said pregame in Carolina that Rempe put up his elbow to brace himself for crashing into the boards, not to his the Devils defenseman.
“He’s got to be mindful, as well,” Laviolette said. “He can learn from it.”
Jonny Brodzinski will replace Rempe on the fourth line against the Hurricanes. Brodzinski has been a healthy scratch the previous two games since forwards Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic joined the lineup after being acquired ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
“I’m sure he’s anxious to get back in there,” Laviolette said.
Siegenthaler left the ice after the hit and did not return.
Devils coach Travis Green said “there was some intent there to injure the player.”
Green added that the hit could be called “predatorial.”
Rempe was also called out by Devils enforcer Kurtis MacDermid, who was frustrated that the 6-foot-8 Blueshirts forward wouldn’t fight him.
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