Matt Rempe ejected for elbow on Miro Heiskanen
(Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe was ejected for elbowing Stars’ Miro Heiskanen in the head during Friday’s game
  • Rempe’s fourth ejection in just 22 NHL games puts him on track for another meeting with Player Safety
  • Below, see video of the Rempe hit and how Rangers coach Peter Laviolette responded

The Rangers’ big man just keeps finding trouble.

Matt Rempe got tossed from Friday night’s game after throwing a dangerous elbow to the head of Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen during New York’s 3-1 win over Dallas.

The hit came in the third period and got Rempe a five-minute major plus a game misconduct. That’s his fourth ejection in just 22 NHL games – a wild stat that has people talking.

“I thought he let off a bit at the end,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said after the game. “He’s just such a big guy. We killed the five, and we’re moving on.”

Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 255 pounds, Rempe has made a name for himself with his physical play. But lately, that same style is causing more headaches than highlights.

The 22-year-old already sat out four games last season for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head. Now he’s probably got another date with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

Friday’s game was also Rempe’s first taste of NHL action since November 25th. The Rangers had just called him up from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday after trading Kaapo Kakko to Seattle.

Talk about bad timing for New York, who’ve dropped 11 of their last 14 games. They need guys who can stay on the ice, not in the penalty box.

Rempe’s stats are eye-popping: 78 penalty minutes in just 21 games before Friday’s mess. Some guys don’t even see that much ice time.

Fortunately, Heiskanen was able to return to the game after a quick trip down the tunnel. However, this whole thing has people wondering if Rempe’s old-school style still fits in today’s NHL.

Rangers fans are now playing the waiting game to see what kind of punishment gets handed down.

One thing’s for sure – the guy they call the “Rempire State Building” better figure out how to play it smart, or his NHL stay might be shorter than his massive frame.