In a game between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals marking the start of the playoffs for both teams on Sunday, a young player outperformed an experienced one.
The Rangers won 4-1 in the first game of their series on April 21 and Matt Rempe scored first after making a hit that led to a penalty on his first time on the ice.
When asked if his mother Janice, who was at Madison Square Garden for the first time on Sunday, inspired his performance, Rempe told reporters after the game: “I’ve always got juice.”
After more than 24 minutes of no goals, Rempe scored the first goal for the Rangers after receiving a pass from a teammate Jimmy Vesey from behind the Capitals net.
It was Rempe’s second goal of the season and his first in the playoffs, where he made his debut on Sunday. He finished Game 1 with that goal (on two shots) as well as a plus-2 rating, two minutes in the penalty box, 8:33 of playing time, and the victory.
Rangers’ Matt Rempe Outshines Tom Wilson & Washington
Before Game 1, Rempe complimented Capitals’ experienced player Tom Wilson and stated that he feels energized when he was a young player by watching video highlights of Wilson making big hits.
Wilson issued a response to the Rangers’ rookie while preparing for the first-round game against Rempe and the Rangers. However, the experienced player couldn’t stop the young player on Sunday.
The Rangers capitalized on Rempe’s goal, scoring two more goals in a span of 2:06 and gaining a 3-goal lead that Washington couldn’t match.
Artemi Panarin scored 33 seconds after Rempe, followed by a goal by Jimmy Vesey, and finally, in the third period, Chris Kreider added the last goal for New York in their 4-1 win over the Caps in Game 1.
“I know my game,” Rempe said after the win. “I know I can skate well, be physical, and I’m built for the playoffs.
“I think I play real hard and can be a pain to play against; protect pucks down low and go to the net. I think I’m built for the playoffs. I think that’s where you want to play, and I was happy with how tonight went.”
Rangers’ Coach Peter Laviolette, Teammates Praise Matt Rempe
Rempe’s first playoff game didn't disappoint. Right from the start, Rempe made an impact and hit Capitals’ left winger Beck Malenstyn early into his first shift.
The referees called a penalty on Rempe, and he couldn't believe it. The Rangers’ penalty-kill unit handled the situation well and kept the score unchanged until his return.
While Rempe was on the ice, New York had 76.44 percent of the expected goals during five-on-five play, as reported by Natural Stat Trick.
“Any game he’s in the lineup, he’s had an effect,” Vesey told reporters after the game when discussing Rempe’s impact on the Rangers performances.
Rangers’ head coach Peter Laviolette spoke positively about Rempe after Game 1, where he also made history as the only coach in NHL to lead six teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs, as reported by the Associated Press.
“I can’t think of a player who has come in and had that impact on a team, on a fan base, on a city (like Rempe has),” Laviolette remarked after the win. “If you watch him and look at him, he just smiles. He’s just happy. Enjoys being here. Enjoys playing the game, and he’s been great.”
Rempe has been in the spotlight more for his non-productive actions such as fighting, starting fights, and suspensions than he has for his contributions to the scoreboard, but that wasn’t the case on Sunday.
“I have faith in myself, and I’m just going to keep working,” Rempe said. “I’m just getting started.”
