How many folks had Matt Rempe scoring the New York Rangers’ first goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on their bingo card?
That is exactly what happened on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals where the enforcer and borderline goon switched in his bruising mitts for his goal-scoring ones.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It didn’t really kick in, and then you hear the crowd,” Rempe said. “It was a dream come true. It was unreal.”
Keying a rush into the Capitals zone just over four minutes into the second period of a scoreless game, Rempe was fed from behind the Washington net by Jimmy Vesey — who won the puck after a strong forecheck from Barclay Goodrow — and one-timed the chance home to put the favored Blueshirts in front.
That goal helped break the floodgates open for the Presidents’ Trophy winners, who had some issues finding a way past netminder Charlie Lindgren in the opening frame. New York scored two more goals in the 2:06 after Rempe’s opener on their way to a 4-1 win — a scoreline somewhat reflective of a No. 1 vs. No. 8 first-round matchup in the playoffs.
“I know my game,” Rempe said. “I know I can skate well and be physical. I think I can be a real pain to play against down low, protecting pucks and going to the net.
“I think I’m built for the playoffs. I think that that’s where you want to play and I was happy how tonight went.”
Rempe’s goal was the exclamation point on an eventful day and debut. Rangers fans began chanting his name within the game’s first minute only to see him go off for a charging penalty two minutes in.
Following his goal and with the Rangers up 2-0, it was Rempe who flatted Capitals defenseman Beck Malenstyn to open an avenue for Vesey’s goal to put the hosts up three and out of sight.
“I think any game he’s in the lineup, he’s had an effect on the game,” Vesey said. “He shows up every night for the team and it’s great to see him get that goal. It was a big goal in the game obviously, but the look on his face was pretty cool, too.”
Such an outing will only grow the cult-hero status that Rempe has been flirting with ever since he made his NHL debut in the Stadium Series against the Islanders where he dropped the gloves with Matt Martin on his first-ever shift.
“I can’t think of a player that’s come in and had that impact on a team, on a fan base, on a city,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said. “If you watch him and look at him, he just smiles, he’s just happy. He loves being here, loves to play the game. He’s been great.”
Puck drop for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden is at 7 p.m. ET.
