The Matt Rempe Show has arrived for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The New York Rangers‘ popular pugilist was seranaded with chants from the home crowd at Madison Square Garden as his made his post-season debut Sunday in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals.
Rempe made his presence felt on the ice almost immediately as he picked up a charging penalty on his first shift when he drove Capitals forward Beck Malenstyn into the boards.
The 21-year-old Rempe then opened the scoring 4:17 into the second period to become the first Rangers player to score in his first career playoff game since Matt Gilroy in Game 1 of the 2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, coincidentally also against the Capitals.
“It was awesome, the crowd was absolutely bumping. It was electric, it was unreal. Love it,” Rempe told ESPN between periods of a 4-1 Rangers win.
That kicked off a three-goal flurry within the span of 2:06, the third-fastest three goals in a playoff game in franchise history, as Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey also found the back of the net on Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren as the Rangers opened up a 3-0 lead.
“So much fun. Having a blast, it’s unreal. It’s the coolest building I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Rempe has had a wild rookie season on Broadway with four fights and 54 penalty minutes, plus a four-game suspension for an illegal hit, all within his first 10 career games.
After Game 1, he said his mom, Janice, was in attendance for the first time at Madison Square Garden.
“I bet she was pretty emotional today, so it was really cool,” Rempe said, per Peter Baugh of The Athletic. “She’s the best.”
Now, he’s got plenty of confidence going forward.
“I’m built for the playoffs, I think,” he said.