Rangers-Devils opens with brawl involving all 10 skaters

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils began Wednesday evening’s recreation with a brawl involving all 10 skaters on the ice off the opening faceoff.

The principle occasion was Rangers ahead Matt Rempe taking over New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid, with the 2 having historical past from the earlier time the Devils visited Madison Sq. Backyard on March 11. That evening, Rempe refused MacDermid’s supply to combat early on. Later within the contest, Rempe knocked Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler out of the sport with a excessive elbow and was subsequently suspended for 4 video games.

Rempe and MacDermid fought the longest on Wednesday, as their tussle continued at heart ice after the opposite 4 fights had ended. Eight gamers — 4 from every staff — acquired recreation misconducts two seconds into the matchup and have been ejected.

“It was nice to see the staff responding that manner and having one another’s backs on the market,” stated MacDermid, who hadn’t performed the prior 4 video games for New Jersey. “l have lots of respect for him [Rempe]. He is a younger child attempting to do his factor. I perceive that.”

Together with Rempe, New York defensemen Jacob Trouba and Ok’Andre Miller and ahead Barclay Goodrow have been ejected. New Jersey defensemen Kevin Bahl and John Marino and forwards Chris Tierney and MacDermid additionally acquired early exits.

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and Devils counterpart Kaapo Kahkonen didn’t take part within the preventing.

The Rangers went on to win 4-3 on a late power-play aim by Chris Kreider.

“I had no concept that was going to occur. It was a spur-of-the-moment factor,” MacDermid stated of the 5 simultaneous fights.

Miller fought Marino, Trouba battled Tierney, Goodrow went towards Bahl and Rangers ahead Jimmy Vesey fought New Jersey’s Curtis Lazar. Vesey and Lazar remained within the recreation since they fought first and did not obtain further punishment.

“There was loads occurring. 5 fights to begin the sport. I do not suppose anybody anticipated that,” Devils interim coach Travis Inexperienced stated.

Inexperienced additionally exchanged phrases with Rangers coach Peter Laviolette between the benches after the fracas.

“I do not know why Peter was upset,” Inexperienced stated. “Their gamers have been lining up fights earlier than the sport. Everyone knows why it occurred tonight. One thing occurred the sport earlier than.”

All 10 gamers additionally acquired five-minute preventing penalties.

New York’s Will Cuylle then fought New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer on the 4:27 mark of the primary interval after Cuylle hit the Devils’ Brendan Smith into the boards.

“It was simply emotion greater than something,” Laviolette stated of his outburst. “I feel the blokes battled laborious for one another.”