Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG The Rempe Rampage is becoming as strong as a Type T Tornado It struck full force at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto last night and when the dust had cleared Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin was wounded. Ilya literally was ill. You would have been as well if the 6-8 and-a-half Ranger had exploded you into the boards the way New York's rookie did to the newest Maple Leaf. And this after the Ranger took five full strides before delivering the crusher. Needless to say the home team's coach was a lot less than thrilled with Rempe's riotous behavior. "He came a long way," groused Sheldon Keefe, "and then left his feet." The early report was that Lyubushkin suffered a head injury. Whether the NHL's Department of Player Safety rules on this will depend on whether there actually was a charge followed by a leaping shot to the head designed for injury. This much is certain; Man Mountain Rempe is doing everything in his power to convince Magistrate Chris Drury that the Rangers have room for a Rempe; hockey's answer to a pinball flipper. But that was only Act One of Sluggo's Scenario. Late in the third period he dropped the gloves with Toronto's resident goon, Ryan Reaves. Frankly, it would have been one heckuva fight had the two enforcers not decided to hang on for dear life with one arm while swinging the other. Although The Skating Giraffe had 6.5 inches and at least 20 pounds on the smaller Reaves, the Leaf fought Rempe to a draw. No question -- by hockey standards -- Rempe is doing all the right things to stay in The Show. And he does it by putting on a show even when critics such as Shakespeare's answer to coaching, Sheldon Keefe, pan Matt's act. Do you think The Remper cares? Nay; not one bit. All he wants to know is who's his next challenger!
