Matt Rempe has already opened his fight ledger for the 2026-27 NHL season in his second game with the New York Rangers.
Rempe needed just four shifts to find a willing dance partner in Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jeffrey Viel. The two tough guys dropped their gloves with 5:43 remaining in the first period of New York’s eventual 4-1 win over the Lightning.
Neither player got the takedown to end the fight, but the much larger Rempe landed more of the significant blows to earn a rare ‘W’ on his fight card.
Matt Rempe fights Jeffrey Viel
Beyond being Rempe’s first bout of this year’s campaign, it was also his first since undergoing two separate right-thumb surgeries after he was hurt in a fight against the now-retired Ryan Reaves in October of last season. Rempe played in just 26 games for the Rangers last year and recorded only 11 total penalty minutes.
The giant winger couldn’t fully shake injury bug again after his latest fight, needing to head back to the Rangers locker room after cutting open the palm of his left hand. However, he ultimately returned to Tuesday’s contest, taking two more shifts in the victory.
Rempe finished the game with just 3:43 total time on ice from Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, 1:17 less than he spent in the penalty box for fighting Viel. He still managed to throw five hits in his short time off the bench.
The 24-year-old forward has spent most of the season’s start in the press box as a healthy scratch, dressing in only one other game against the Boston Bruins on September 29. He played 9:49 of ice time in that 3-0 loss and fired one shot on goal.
With his fight against Viel, Rempe now has just as many NHL regular-season fights (11) as he does career points (5g, 6a).
