Matt Lempe took the NHL by storm, but now the 6-foot-8.5 forward will have to watch the Rangers take on the Hurricanes without him.
Lempe, who served as a healthy scratch in the past two games and was scheduled to do so again Monday night in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, is still soaking up some of his first NHL playoff experience.
The positivity radiating from the 21-year-old rookie hasn’t diminished despite being relegated to the press box after getting his first taste of consistent game play.
Rempe has focused on making the most of practice and learning from common experience, which has been made easier by communication with Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette.
“I can’t say enough about Ravi and how great he’s been to me,” Lempe said after the Rangers’ morning skate on Monday. “The opportunities he gave me and how much he communicated with me every day. I love him. I go to war for him every day. That guy is the best.
“The conversation was great, but he just said, ‘Don’t read too much into it.'” Don’t overthink it, just keep working. ”
After the Rangers won in double overtime in Game 2, it became clear that Rempe and Laviolette’s comfort with him didn’t bode well for the team’s competitiveness against Carolina.
Lempe, who currently averages 5 minutes and 38 seconds of landing time per game, saw fewer and fewer shifts in the third period as the Capitals series progressed, and he recorded zero in the final frame of Game 4. .
Although he played one shift in Game 3 of Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canes and only had a landing time of 4:03 in Game 2, Lempe made it to the final frame in both overtimes. There was no ice.
Laviolette typically reduces his bench in close games anyway, but it was clear he needed more personnel flexibility.
There is also something to be said about Lempe’s priestly methods. The referees obviously have their eyes on him all the time. He was penalized in three of the four games against Washington and also in Game 1 against Carolina, though some of them were admittedly questionable or in response to his bulk. was.
“If that’s the case, that’s what it is,” Lempe said. “I don’t really care. They’re doing their job. To be honest, I’m sure the referee has seen how I’m playing. “Obviously, I don’t want to get out of the box. It’s important that I don’t. I’m not going to give a penalty or hurt the team, but I’m not going to complain to the referee at all.”
The learning curve in the NHL is different for everyone, but Lempe had to overcome factors that most people don’t.
Still, the Canadian forward accepted it. Lempe doesn’t think his usage or limited on-ice time will be a hindrance, and believes he can make the most of his NHL opportunity regardless.
“I’m getting used to my time,” Rempe said. “I think I’m pretty consistent here… all the more reason to try to influence your shift if you haven’t had one in a while. I have to make the most of it. I’m very happy to have those minutes. It helps me understand my game and what I’m going to do. . I’m not going to miss a shift even if I’m playing more. I’m going to do the best I can every shift that I’m given.”
