All 10 skaters brawl off opening faceoff at start of Devils-Rangers game

The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils began Wednesday night time’s recreation with a brawl involving all 10 gamers on the ice off the opening faceoff.

The primary 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 night time, Rempe refused MacDermid’s supply to struggle early within the recreation. 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 middle ice after the opposite 4 fights had ended. 4 gamers from every staff acquired recreation misconducts 2 seconds into the sport.

“It was nice to see the staff responding that method and having one another’s backs on the market,” mentioned MacDermid, who hadn’t performed the previous 4 video games for New Jersey however was on the ice for the opening faceoff. “l have a variety 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 had been ejected from the sport. New Jersey defensemen Kevin Bahl and John Marino, and forwards Chris Tierney and MacDermid additionally acquired early exits.

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

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

Miller fought Marino, Trouba battled Tierney, Goodrow went in opposition to 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 extra punishment.

“There was lots occurring. 5 fights to start out the sport. I don’t assume anybody anticipated that,″ Devils interim head coach Travis Inexperienced mentioned.

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

“I don’t know why Peter was upset,” Inexperienced mentioned. ”Their gamers had 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 mentioned of his outburst. ”I believe the fellows battled exhausting for one another.”