Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG The Rangers are SO good, they even can win without their steamrolling rock star Matt Rempe. Sitting out his four-game suspension for a pile driving elbow against New Jersey's Jonas Sieganthaler during the previous game with the Devils seems to some in Rangerville a bit much. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0OTcxNDkyMzczNDQwMTMy/screenshot-2024-03-12-at-100422-am.png] Rempe is getting reactions from all over the continent even New Jersey where Devils radio analyst Glenn (Chico) Resch added his two-cents worth. "Rempe didn't set out to elbow our guy," Resch told The Maven, "but because he's the tallest player in the league, it came out as an infraction." Was a four game suspension deserved? On the Rangers side, no. Or, as one scout explained: "He's a rookie with no negative record and it didn't seem to be premeditated. One or two games would have been more like it." On the other hand, Rempe's histrionics have made him a marked man in record time, whether he likes it or not. The fact that Rempe refused New Jersey's Kurtis MacDermid's invitation to fight has riled some observers who believe that -- considering the damage Matt has done to the Devils over two games -- accepting the invitation was the right thing for an ice cop to do. The Rempe furor and Matt's effect tended to overshadow the superior performances of new Rangers Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg. Roslovic enjoyed several scoring chances against the Canes, using his speed to advantage. He's made Marvelous Mika Z and Chris Kreider even better players and works tenaciously in the corners. Wennberg -- he prefers passing to shooting -- is an excellent 200-foot, two-way defensive ace. Lavvy now uses him late in games to protect leads. The Rangers next play the Lightning in Tampa Bay. Jonny Brodzinski is pinch-hitting for suspended Matt The Mauler. The Maven's Conclusion: Somehow they'll manage to win without Wonderboy Rempe. Roslovic and Wennberg will see to that. Brodzi as well!
