Peter Laviolette was pleased after the Rangers’ 4-0 win over Nashville, but he also had to address Matt Rempe’s elbow to Nick Blankenburg. The coach attempted to justify the player’s actions, though this isn’t the first time Rempe has been involved in controversial hits.
When discussing Rempe’s elbow, Laviolette pointed to his size, saying, “Remps is just such a big man. He was forechecking.” Given that Rempe stands at 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, the coach added, “When he hits, he’s just higher than everybody else.”
Laviolette downplayed the impact of the hit, saying, “I think he maybe grazed him a little bit. I think it was more of a miss. That’s his game, as well.” He emphasized that Rempe plays hard but within the NHL’s rules, stating, “He’s got to do it within the rules, but we also need him forechecking.”
Video footage clearly shows Rempe approaching Blankenburg from behind, initiating contact with his right arm slightly raised before delivering a hard elbow to the Nashville player’s chin, sending him crashing into the glass.
Matt Rempe’s Elbowing History
This isn’t the first time Rempe has used his elbow in a controversial hit. Two months ago, in a game against the Stars, he used his size and strength to crush Miro Heiskanen into the glass. Heiskanen had his back turned, and footage showed Rempe raising his right arm to the Stars player’s face. Rempe was ejected for the hit.
Around 11 months ago, he delivered a similar blow to Jonas Siegenthaler of the Devils during a game where the Rangers were leading 2-0 in the second period. Unlike the Heiskanen hit, this one was nearly face-to-face, and his elbow made direct contact with Siegenthaler’s head.
Andreas Englund Stood Up for Blankenburg
After Blankenburg went down, his Nashville teammate Andreas Englund immediately stepped in, dropping the gloves to go after Rempe in retaliation. Englund was visibly furious over the hit and landed a punch to Rempe’s face, leaving the Rangers forward with a noticeable wound.
