Rangers’ Matt Rempe was ejected for the fourth time in 22 career NHL games

New York Rangers right wing Matt Rempe received a game foul for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

About seven minutes into the third period, the Rangers had a 2-1 lead over the Stars. That’s when Rempe skated to the back of Heiskanen, who chipped the puck out of Dallas’ defensive zone.

Rempe hit Heiskanen from behind with a high elbow. Heiskanen was slow to get up. He sat out about six minutes of playing time before returning for four more shifts.

After the frame, Stars center Roope Hintz rushed to Rempe to defend his longtime teammate. They both received two-minute minors for roughing. Rempe also received a five-minute major for elbowing and a 10-minute game foul that ended his night at 5:32 ice time and five hits.

Despite Rempe’s ejection, the Rangers killed off the big penalty and ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Stars 3-1.

“I thought he had a big impact on the game,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told journalists afterwards. “I’d like to stay away from the five-minute major, but he does his best to hit bodies and make a difference in the game. Our guys really rallied around it at the end.”

This is the Rangers Enforcer’s fourth ejection in 22 career NHL games. He last received a game misconduct for participating in the Rangers’ and New Jersey Devils’ line brawl on April 3. It came a few weeks after Rempe received a major penalty and eventually a four-game suspension for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler on March 11. And on February 22 against New Jersey again, Rempe received a match penalty for a hit on Nathan Bastian.

This was Rempe’s first game for the Rangers since Nov. 25 against the St. Louis Blues. The Rangers called him up from the AHL, where he has three goals, five points and 22 penalty minutes in 18 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

So far in the NHL this season, the 22-year-old has played in five games and recorded one shot and 24 penalty minutes. Last season he got 71 penalty minutes in 17 games along with a goal and an assist.

Rempe is averaging 6:15 of ice time this season and 5:46 in his career.

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