Matt Rempe did not wait long to avenge his loss to Dylan McIlrath in the AHL.
The two heavyweights dropped the gloves at center ice 2:37 into the first period, drawing excited cheers from fans at Capital One Arena.
Both players landed rights and a number of left jabs, but McIlrath appeared to get the better of Rempe again, finishing the fight with a takedown.
Rempe was bloodied in the bout, sporting a cut under his left eye. The Rangers forward left the ice and went down the tunnel for repairs.
McIlrath flexed and let out a huge roar after the fight, earning loud stick taps from his teammates. (The moment can be seen at the end of the below video.)
The two players last fought during the AHL’s 2022-23 season when McIlrath played for the Hershey Bears and Matt Rempe was a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack. McIlrath won decisively and Rempe then later declined McIlrath’s request for another bout later in their careers.
Rempe earned the ire of the Capitals during the playoffs last season, leaving his mark on the first-round series with several controversial plays. He injured Trevor van Riemsdyk and TJ Oshie with hits and declined Tom Wilson’s invitation to fight.
Maybe he should have declined this one, too. Alex Ovechkin would score 46 seconds after the fight and the Capitals would take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Rempe was back in the lineup after being sent down to the AHL over the weekend. He has no points in 3 games played this season in the NHL.
