- Matt Rempe fought Jeffrey Viel in the first period of the Rangers’ 4-1 win over Tampa Bay
- It was Rempe’s first fight since the Ryan Reaves bout that broke his thumb last October
- Read below for the fight video, the cut hand and what Mike Sullivan said about him
Matt Rempe has his first fight of the season, and it came with a scare.
The Rangers forward dropped the gloves with Lightning pest Jeffrey Viel with 5:43 left in the first period of Tuesday’s 4-1 win at Madison Square Garden. It was Rempe’s first fight since Oct. 23, 2025, when a bout with Ryan Reaves left him with a broken thumb and two surgeries.
Watch the Rempe fight with Viel:
Viel got in a few quick lefts early. Rempe settled in and answered with a string of big rights, and neither guy got the takedown. The 6-foot-9 Rempe clearly had the better of it.
The whole Rangers bench went over to the box to show Rempe some love, according to Jonny Lazarus. Lazarus also noticed Rempe heading for the locker room afterward:
Rempe cut the palm of his left hand and needed repairs. He was back on the bench in the second period, though he only got two more shifts the rest of the night.
Rempe finished with 3:43 of ice time, 1:17 less than the five minutes he spent in the box for fighting. He still threw five hits.
Head coach Mike Sullivan was asked about Rempe’s impact after the game, and he talked up what the 24-year-old brings when he’s in the lineup.
“Remps is a disruptive player when he plays for us,” Sullivan said. “He’s hard to play against, he sticks up for his teammates. He’s physical on the forecheck, he can help us build momentum, he can do those intangibles.”
Rempe was a healthy scratch for the previous six games after dressing on opening night in Boston on Sept. 29. He skated on the fourth line with Cole Beaudoin and Oliver Bjorkstrand against Tampa. Jaroslav Chmelar had been in his spot.
Rempe played only 26 games last season because of the thumb injury. He said in camp he had a lot to prove this year, and the fight gave him one more win for the card. He now has 11 career NHL fights to go with five goals and six assists.
