Watch: Rangers' Matt Rempe trades blows with Andreas Englund after landing a hit on his Predators teammates

New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe was at it again on Sunday night, throwing his share of haymakers in a fight with Nashville Predators blueliner Andreas Englund. The wild action took place early in the first period of the Rangers-Predators matchup at Madison Square Garden.

The brawl started after Matt Rempe leveled the Preds’ Nick Blankenburg. Immediately, Englund retaliated for Rempe’s hit, engaging the much larger opponent.

Here’s a look at the wild action:

Englund and Rempe traded blows as the two combatants tried to get the upper hand. Despite Rempe having a size advantage, he was unable to subdue Englund. The tilt ended in a draw, with Rempe skating away with a bloody nose.

It remains to be seen if the league will look into Rempe’s hit as the replay showed Blankenburg’s head making contact with the glass and snapping back awkwardly. Blankenburg appeared to be all right. However, the Predators will likely evaluate Blankenburg to see if he sustained an injury on the hit.

Rempe was previously handed an eight-game suspension on Dec. 23 after a hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Hiro Heiskanen. It was the second suspension of his career.

Matt Rempe and New York Rangers shut out Predators

As for the game itself, the New York Rangers shut out the Nashville Predators 4-0. The Rangers got goals from Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller (PPG), K’Andre Miller, and Brett Berard to power the offense. Miller registered two points (1G, 1A), while Mika Zibanejad got two assists on the night. Panarin also registered two points (1G, 1A), bringing his team-leading point total to 61 on the season.

As for Matt Rempe, he saw limited ice time, playing over seven minutes on the night, registering a shot on goal and seven PIM. Rempe continues to ride for the fourth line, delivering plenty of grit for the Blue Shirts.

With the win, the Rangers inch closer to the idle Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets sit fourth in the Metro Division with 68 points, while the Rangers trail with 64. However, the Rangers trail the Detroit Red Wings by two points for the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers are part of a three-team tie at 64 points, jockeying for position with the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins. The Rangers will have a crucial four-game stretch in which they play division rivals, the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Also, the Blue Shirts play the Ottawa Senators, one of the teams they are chasing in the playoff hunt. These next games will determine the Rangers’ playoff hopes as their remaining games feature tough teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and New Jersey Devils.