Sunday afternoon's Rangers-Islanders game at Madison Square Garden should be decisive for Matt Rempe. Either he plays – as he should – or gets sent down to Hartford, finishing his season as an esteemed Wolf in an AHL pack, as an increasing number of fans advocate. Logic says that Peter Laviolette plays his Skating Giraffe. After all, Rempe's fame and – assumed – fortune can be traced to the Islanders It may seem like ancient history, but Rempe was a Class-A Nobody until GM Chris Drury elevated him from Hartford late last season. The Remper had the grand good luck of getting his first turn on the ice in the outdoor game at MetLife Stadium against the Islanders of all teams; and directly against Matt Martin of all gamesters. Since neither of them knew how to do the Cha-Cha-Cha, they dropped the gloves and about 79,000 onlookers at the Stadium Series game went nuts. Figure that 78,999 had never seen a 6-7, 241-pounder swing his mits so this was really a sight to see. Matt Martin – who deserves a percentage for making Rempe a personality – did well against the Man Mountain and they just might "Go!" again today. "When Rempe is in the lineup," writes veteran hockey columnist Patrick Hoffman, "or on the ice, the other team knows that they cannot go around bullying the Rangers because they will have to answer to Rempe." Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. Then again, they might not because the Rangers esteemed coach doesn't like Rempe. That's easy to figure since The Big Fella has played in only three of his team's ten games. Hoffman: "Through the Rangers first eight games, Rempe had not earned a bigger role with the club." In the ninth game against the Capitals in Washington, Matt engaged heavyweight Dylan McIllrath. It was a good fight although Rempe wound up bloodied on the left cheek. At best it was a draw. "But," says The Old Scout, "the fight did nothing to rouse the Rangers. They were easily beaten and the fight might bring about Rempe's retirement papers as a New Yorker." That's why Sunday’s game will be decisive for Rempe. Lavvy should play him against the injury-riddled Isles because he's really got nothing to lose and the MSG crowd would just love to see "Their Boy" swing and sway with Martin or any other Islander. But with better all-round players such as Jonny Brodzinski, Adam Eckstrom and Sam Carrick, who needs a Sideshow Charlie? Perhaps Lavvy read Ken Campbell's Hockey News column when he unequivocally stated, "I have no time for one dimensional enforcers in hockey. I have no time for Matt Rempe!" Could be, we have seen Rempe's last stand!
