Matt Rempe And Kurtis MacDermid; Rangers And Devils Brawl Two Seconds Into First Period

Matt Rempe and Kurtis MacDermid dropped the gloves only two seconds into the first period at MSG. In total, eight skaters were issued game misconduct penalties.

It took only two seconds for Matt Rempe to prove that he could take it; but mostly give it, as he fought New Jersey's Kurtis MacDermid to a draw in one of the longest one-on-one battles in recent memory.

Rempe, who had ducked the last MacDermid challenge when the clubs last met, knew he had to show his moxie and he did that this time around.

With a disadvantage in height and weight, the Devil matched Rempe blow for blow but the giant Ranger's significant inch-edge kept the swinging an even blow-for-blow until the exhausted warriors agreed to an armistice.

But that was only the main event. With an assortment of simultaneous melees that resulted in several ejections. They included: Chris Tierney, Kurtis MacDermid, John Marino and Kevin Bahl for the Visitors.

For the Rangers, the ejectees included K'Andre Miller, Rempe and Barcley Goodrow and captain, Jacob Trouba. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlLgGNUGId4[/embed]

The peace hardly lasted when the Devils' Dawson Mercer challenged Will Cuylle and wound up being tossed from the game with an extra two minute penalty for instigating.

Cuylle got the early advantage but the Devil came on strong with a few pile drivers before calm was restored.

Each team played with four defensemen the rest of the way, leaving more staff than players on the bench. 

Versus the Devils this season Rempe played in three games, while playing only 5:03 and has been ejected all three times, while accumulating 47 penalty minutes.