Rangers Matt Rempe Won’t Face Further Discipline for Illegal Hit on Devils Nathan Bastian

NEWARK — New York Rangers rookie forward Matt Rempe is reportedly not going to face any further discipline for his hit to the head on New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian on Thursday.

Rempe (21) made his NHL debut at MetLife Stadium when the Rangers faced the New York Islanders last Saturday. On his first NHL shift, the 6-foot-8, 240 lb forward lined up alongside Islanders forward Matt Martin, and the two brawlers dropped the mitts. Before Rempe recorded his first second of time on ice in the NHL, he was already in a fight.

That tells you all you need to know about the player Rempe is. He’s physical, and he’s unafraid to show it.

Rempe’s physicality made itself present quickly on Thursday night. The Rangers rookie hit Bastian illegally in the head just 2:25 into the first period and bloodied the Devils forward. Bastian also appeared to be holding his right shoulder and made his way to the Devils’ locker room.

Matthew Rempe was given a match penalty for this hit on Nate Bastian pic.twitter.com/2AzdNRJncW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 23, 2024

Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler came to Bastian’s defense, however, Rempe made quick work of Siegenthaler by knocking him down with just one punch. Rempe received a two-minute minor for roughing against Siegenthaler and a match penalty (ejected from the game) for his hit on Bastian.

Bastian returned to the Devils’ bench later in the game. The Devils and Rangers tilt maintained the physical intensity following the early hit by Rempe. As a result, Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba laid a hit on Bastian that sent the Devils forward tumbling to the ice and into the boards. Bastian promptly went after Trouba after the hit and he wrestled Trouba to the ice.

A total of 47 penalty minutes were assessed between the two rivals. 30 of the 47 were assessed to the Rangers, however, in the Devils’ 5-1 loss, they couldn’t take advantage of 11-plus minutes of power play time.

As for Rempe, reports suggest that the NHL Department of Player Safety deemed the hit on Bastian did not require any further discipline. Rempe missed the majority of Thursday night’s game following the match penalty just 2:25 into the first period.

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