Rangers: How Matt Rempe Can Be A Factor And Not A Fool Against Carolina

The upcoming Rangers-Canes series is one that Matt Rempe can win for the Blueshirts.

The upcoming Rangers-Canes series is one that Matt Rempe can win for the Blueshirts.

Even with the Kindergarten ice time, Peter Laviolette so graciously grants him, The Remper helped sweep the Capitals. Yes, he was a factor without being a kayo artist.

Trust The Maven, he can repeat the feat against the increasingly dislikeable rascals from Raleigh.

A quick refresher on how The Skating Steeple beat the Caps:

1. He avoided stupid fights with Terrible Tom Wilson.

2. He did what he was told by coach Lavvy.

3. He crushed T.J. Oshie without getting a penalty.

4. Valuable Oshie wound up with a broken hand and was useless in Game Four.

Granted, Carolina presents a more intense challenge and that happens to be perfect for Matty.

My reasoning is that Rempe has a sense of humor and he strategically employs it as he did by laughing in Terrible Tom Wilson's face when Willy invited him to dance.

Who knows -- The Remper's targets could be Sibby Aho, Martin Necas, or even Jake (The Rake) Slavin, who'll be distracted, thrown off his game, and maybe even suckered into a penalty by The Large Laugher.

Not to mention that we know by now that Matt belongs to the big-time alias "The Show." When he plays, the Rangers almost always win. How about that, Lavvy?

My one-time co-author, best joke audience, and crack Devils radio play-by-play ace Glenn "Chico" Resch put it this way with me when we discussed the Rempe reality.

"He hits and fights and is a very good skater," said Resch who knows his stuff.

"Matt can be an effective goalie 'screen' and if the puck hits him, it could be a goal."

I don't see Matt being suckered into a senseless fight; he's over that nonsense.

But if there's a good reason to drop the mitts, I now feel sorry in advance for the Cane who gets clopped.

Let's face it: The Rempe-Barclay Goodrow-Jimmy Vesey (RGV) trio is as good a fourth line as any Rod Brind'Amour can throw out, and I'm hoping Lavvy gives RGV useful ice time.

And speaking of sourpuss Brind'Amour, it wouldn't surprise me if Commander Cane hurled a few rude remarks at Brother Matt as Rempe lined up another torpedo target.

Knowing The Remper, I suspect that he'll return the flavor (licorice) with a chuckle, but not a knuckle.

By the way, the legendary, literary Bard, William Shakespeare, had a character named "Puck" who narrated "Midsummer Night's Dream." In the play, Puck's best line was "What fools these mortals be."

Matt Rempe is no fool but he is the guy who can make the Canes look very mortal!