"Absolutely bodied", "Waste of a roster spot": NHL fans mock a bleeding Matt Rempe after heavy tilt against Dylan McIlrath

Fans reacted as Matt Rempe and the New York Rangers renewed their rivalry with the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. This was their first meeting since the Rangers eliminated the Capitals in the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The game started with intensity as Rempe dropped the gloves just three minutes in. Called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack, Rempe faced Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath in a heavyweight fight.

Unfortunately, the fight didn't go well for Matt Rempe. The 22-year-old left the ice bloodied after McIlrath, a former Ranger, gained the upper hand. McIlrath is a big player at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, and his experience was clear in the fight.

Even though Matt Rempe came up second-best, his actions seemed to inspire his team. Shortly after the fight, the Rangers scored their first goal as Will Cuylle netted with a pass from Kaapo Kakko.

B/R Open Ice shared the video post on X (formerly Twitter):

"THE HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: REMPE VS. MCILRATH"

NHL fans reacted on X.

"Rempe got absolutely bodied," one fan said.

"Waste of a roster spot," another commented.

"Rempe can't fight and can't play hockey," one X user criticized his skills.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X.

"I thought Rempe was supposed to be good at fighting. What’s the point of being in the lineup if you get rag dolled every time you fight?," a fan said.

"Rempe is a joke… good for one thing and one thing only. Zero actual hockey skill," another fan commented.

"All that off-season fight training for Rempe to get absolutely handled," a fan tweeted.

---

Matt Rempe remains scoreless as Capitals dominate the Rangers

The New York Rangers recalled Matt Rempe from the AHL, but he didn't score in their 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. Rempe has played three NHL games but is still looking for his first goal.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the first period, bringing his career goal total to 857. Aliaksei Protas added a goal and two assists, while Dylan Strome and Rasmus Sandin had two assists each. Logan Thompson made 16 saves for Washington.

Goalie Igor Shesterkin made 41 saves, but the Rangers struggled, with coach Peter Laviolette saying that they were “chasing the game.”

Will Cuylle and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, with Kreider’s goal making it 3-2 in the second period. Protas then scored for Washington, followed by Filip Chytil’s quick goal to make it 4-3. Nic Dowd scored an empty-net goal, sealing a 5-3 win for Washington.