New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe made his presence felt in his playoff debut as much as a fourth-liner can.
The rookie enforcer scored a goal, posted a plus-2 rating, and was engaged physically with three hits in the Rangers' 4-1 victory in Game 1 over the Washington Capitals.
"I think I'm built for the playoffs," Rempe told The New York Post's Mollie Walker postgame.
Rempe added that his mom was at Madison Square Garden for the first time to watch him play. The 21-year-old was asked if her presence gave him extra juice for the game.
"I've always got juice," Rempe said with a big grin.
Rempe, who stands at a towering 6-foot-7, 241 pounds, recorded just one goal and one assist in 17 contests during the regular season but gained popularity for his willingness to fight. He almost spent as much time in the box as he did on the ice, averaging 5:38 of ice time per game and 4.18 penalty minutes per game.
"I can't think of a player that's come in and had that impact on a team, on a fanbase, on a city," head coach Peter Laviolette said postgame.
The fourth line in general was a major factor in New York's victory. Jimmy Vesey registered a goal and an assist, and Barclay Goodrow added a pair of helpers.
Vesey was highly complimentary of Rempe postgame.
"Any game he's in the lineup, he's had an effect," Vesey said.
