DALLAS — There was a lot to like about Matt Lempe's first game back with the Rangers after a 3-1/2-week absence, until the 22-year-old rookie was ejected for the fourth time in 22 games of his NHL career.
In the Blueshirts' 3-1 win over the Stars on Friday night at American Airlines Center, Lempe committed three penalties in the second period alone and also had five hits and one in 5 minutes, 27 seconds of ice time. Recorded a shot on goal.
However, Lempe became the center of a brawl in front of Dallas' bench after slamming Miro Heiskanen into the boards from behind and slamming a Stars defenseman to the ice.
Lempe ended the night with five minutes of major time and a game misconduct after hurting his right elbow while hitting a ball.
“I thought he had a little bit of a lead at the end. He's a really great guy,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “We killed five people and we're moving on.”
Rempe may face additional disciplinary action for the hit, but that won't be announced until Saturday.
Thursday, 11:59 p.m. The Rangers recalled Lempe on Wednesday night, moving forward in the trade for Kaapo Kakko just before the NHL's holiday roster freeze.
The league's suspension of all roster movements, which will be lifted at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 28, will keep the 6-foot-8-1/2 forward with the Rangers for at least the next three games.
“I thought he had a big impact on the game,” Laviolette said. “We want to stay away from five-minute majors, but he's doing his best to put his body on the line and make a difference in the game. Our guys have really rallied around that.”
Lempe bounced back and forth between the NHL club and the minors for the first six-and-a-half weeks of the season before settling into his new role as both a top-six skater and special teams contributor for the Hartford Wolfpack.
The start of the 2024-25 season didn't go quite as Lempe probably imagined after bursting onto the NHL scene last season, but the 22-year-old is still enjoying his increased responsibility in the AHL and looking forward to the future. We maintain a positive outlook on developments. It will all help him in the long run.
“I wouldn't say it's a reset. I think it's all just growth,” Lempe said of how he perceived his assignment in Hartford before Friday's win. “We have a long journey ahead of us. I've come a long way in a short period of time, but I think the best thing for me is to continue developing and so on.
“My first few years at Hartford, I don't think I ever played more than 12 minutes. I don't think I played a single second on special teams. All of a sudden I played 18 minutes and was very effective. For me, playing in the game is not just about giving, it's about getting it.”
