Matt Rempe made quite an impression last night on his umpteenth promotion from Hartford.
He was a runaway skating pinball, hitting flippers all over the place.
Only they weren’t flippers, they were Dallas Stars either being bopped, flopped or nearly decapitated by the NHL’s biggest player at a overweight 6-8, 240 pounds.
Among the Calgarian’s other accomplishments is the fact that he drew three penalties, got himself a five-minute major as well as a game misconduct.
“He made a big impact,” says coach Peter Laviolette who otherwise has mismanaged Rempe up until this game.
That Rempe was tossed from the contest was because of his whack job on Dallas’ best player Miro Heiskanen who managed to stay alive despite being the target of a human piledriver.
Former NHL goalie and current Stars tv analyst Darryl (Razor) Reaugh didn’t call for Rempe’s expulsion to Devil’s Island but Razor was not kind to Mauler Matt’s idea of bullying.
“This (hit) was about as nefarious and nimrodian as you can get,” Razor argued with big and even bigger words.
According to The Maven’s definition, “nefarious” means wicked, evil, or criminal. Nimrodian means something along the legendary Nimrod’s line – taking good aim.
What I’m wondering is what definition the NHL’s Department of Player Safety takes in this case.
The Hockey News’ eminent columnist Ken Campbell believes that Mauler Matt does not even belong in the NHL. Kenny has backing on that.
The Rangers, however, think otherwise. As long as he brings wins along with his presence, Rempe figures to hang around longer than for a cup of Manhattan coffee.
That is, unless the NHL hits him with a cup of suspensions!