Tempers flared in a way rarely seen in the NHL as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils game on Wednesday night descended into chaos mere seconds after the opening faceoff.
According to a tweet by sports journalist Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg),
“JUST IN: 8 skaters ejected after a massive fight breaks out between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. This is insane. Immediately after the game started, all 10 skaters started brawling.”
JUST IN: 8 skaters ejected after a massive fight breaks out between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.
This is insane.
Immediately after the game started, all 10 skaters started brawling.
The fight apparently stemmed from an incident earlier in the month when Rangers… pic.twitter.com/R7aPVQDrSa
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 4, 2024
As the puck dropped, chaos ensued. All ten skaters—no exceptions—dropped their gloves and waltzed across the center ice. The Madison Square Garden crowd held its breath as fists flew. The main event? Matt Rempe, the Rangers’ hulking right-wing prospect, squared off against Kurtis MacDermid, the Devils’ tough guy. But this wasn’t just about the game—it was personal.
The brawl erupted immediately after the puck was dropped, with all ten starting skaters on the ice engaging in a massive fight. This unprecedented display of animosity set the tone for a chaotic and potentially costly night for both teams.
Reports suggest the brawl stemmed from an earlier incident on March 11th, when New York Rangers’ rookie Matt Rempe delivered a high elbow to Devils’ defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. Rempe was subsequently ejected from that game and received a four-game suspension. It appears that lingering animosity from the previous encounter boiled over at the start of the next matchup.
The referees wasted no time in restoring order, but the damage was done. Four players from each team were ejected, leaving both squads significantly shorthanded for the remainder of the game. The ejected New York Rangers included Rempe, along with Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller, and Barclay Goodrow. For the Devils, Chris Tierney, John Marino, Kurtis MacDermid, and Kevin Bahl received early showers.
While the immediate consequence is a night of embarrassment and depleted lineups, the ramifications of this brawl could extend further. The NHL Department of Player Safety will likely review the incident and potentially issue additional suspensions. Additionally, the league may consider fines for both teams.
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