I'm a Rangers fan obviously, watch all the games and I am really enjoying the season. But Matt Rempe is out of control. He was actually having a good game last night, the Rangers second goal by Gustaffson was because Rempe parked his Sasquatch ass in front of the net and the goalie was dealing with a total eclipse. ... but as Larry Brooks tweeted, "The final minute of Rempe's game included an o-zone faceoff win over Hischier; going to the front to set screen for 2-0 goal; elbowing Siegenthaler in head to get major and game misconduct before waving to NJ bench while leaving the ice with 0:30 remaining in second."
That elbow to the head was really dirty and just so forking stupid, and the wrestling heel wave was dumb. It's been a couple of times now that the Rangers had to kill 5 minute majors because of him, and it's worked out for them because their penalty kill is really good and it energizes everyone when you kill off that much time. But if he keeps playing and keeps embracing the role of the villain and keeps doing stupid things, it's going to cost the team (and get someone injured badly, and get one of his teammates killed in retaliation) eventually in a big spot.
He's going to take a suspension for that hit and whatever he gets, he will deserve it. He's a cult hero at the Garden, and has become a thing, but from my perspective, the Rangers have a really good team that has as good a chance as anyone this year, and they just don't need the focus to be on a clod like him. I'm not digging it. Even Lavliolette couldn't try to spin it to protect his player after the game: "I don't want to comment too much on it until I get to see it again."