Rangers-Columbus Recap History will be made tonight at The Garden. In only ten days -- and in his sixth game as a New York Ranger [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/matt-rempe-new-york-rangers-fighting-stan-fischler-metropolitan-division] -- a guy who was a total nobody two weeks ago has become one of the Blueshirts most adored heroes. (I dare you to get a ticket and see). Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NTgxNDAxNzAwMzQ1Nzg1/usatsi_22607352.jpg] At the New Yorkers practice rink yesterday, the media posse around this 6-8.5 inch mammoth was so big, you'd think the young Rangers was dating Taylor Swift. It never happened so fast to Hall of Fame hero Rod Gilbert nor Cup-winner Mike Richter nor anyone else in the 97-year history of the franchise. But when Matt Rempe steps on to the MSG pond tonight he will be greeted like a conquering hero of the most inimitable kind in the rarest of ways. All it's taken to become the Rangers super-idol is three fights, one black (left) eye, one game-winning goal and one assist. That's all folks; that's all. Perhaps the strangest aspect of all is that in his last fight -- vs. Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets -- Rempe got the beehoozis beaten out of himself to the point where even his cranium required concussion protocol. And here's the beauty part. Those same bottom-feeding Blue Jackets will be facing the division-leading Rangers. The Jolly Blueshirted Giant vs. The Pile-driving fisted Blue Jacket. Which means we should be viewing a rematch; providing that Rempe is willing to exchange blows with the very same meat-grinding fists from Ohio. That's why reporters, tv types -- along with network personalities and assorted columnists --have streamed in from distant Canada for a few words with our instant hero. Nor did the guitar-playing Regal of Rempe's Rumpus Room disappoint. Rather he captivated yesterday's clubhouse crowd, telling NHL.com's Dan Rosen, for one, "I'm getting to live my dream." You would be too, had you played 53 games for the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack last year and finished with a grand total of six goals, four assists and ten measly points. And in total minor league anonymity; assuming that a skating giraffe ever could be anonymous. The fact that Mississippi-born Olivier made Rempe's left eye look like a chocolate donut, seems not to bother our hero. If you can believe him, Matt will have no qualms about a rematch. "It's going to be wicked," he told the eager-to-hear-more press corps. "It's going to be awesome. I love it." What coach Peter Laviolett also would love is Marvelous Matt complimenting his linemates Barclay Goodrow and almost-as tall Adam Edstrom into a solid fourth line. If you subtract Rempe's fights from the equation, Lavvy is left with what could be a superiorhard driving, fiercely forechecking unit that would negate any GM Chris Drury's need for a trade. Apart from the promising fight card, there remains to be a hockey game to be contested. Columbus has played well against New York as the Jackets 4-2 victory proved in Ohio. Nor would it be a bad idea for the Blueshirts to get back on the express track again. They should unless the distracting Rempe Effect has a negative effect on the clubhouse. On the record at least, the Rangers are eating up the nobody-to-somebody fuss over Rempe. "He's a fun guy to be around," said Goodrow. As for Matt's fighting, Jimmy Vesey is supportive. "He isn't backing down from anyone." The Maven likes the way Rempe is handling the fuss over him because he "gets it." When he says "I'm trying to keep a level head," he means it. And the best way to do that is to avoid Olivier's fists!
