The much-anticipated bout between Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe and Maple Leafs pugilist Ryan Reaves actually happened Saturday night in Toronto — and it was a long one.
The two enforcers dropped the gloves at center ice with 5:59 remaining in the third period of the Rangers’ 4-3 shootout loss, exchanging right hands back and forth as they each held the other’s jersey with their left hands.
The fight lasted nearly a minute with neither man hitting the ice and ending it in a draw as the crowd in Scotiabank Arena crowd went nuts.
It was a solid showing for the 21-year-old rookie Rempe, who is 6-foot-8 ½ and 245 pounds. But the former Ranger Reaves, who is 37 and just 6-2 and 226 pounds, more than held his own, too.
Max Domi, who scored the game-winner in shootout, credited both combatants for their toughness.
“Hardest job in the game,” Domi — whose Dad, Tie, sits third all-time in penalty minutes — said on his 29th birthday. “There’s absolutely nothing even close. … A lot of respect for both those guys.”
Former Islander John Tavares, who also scored for Toronto, called it a “throwback” fight in an era where that part of the game has become significantly diminished.
“There was some anticipation, everyone was itching for it,” he said. “I don’t know how anyone would ever want to drop’em with Reavo.”
Earlier, Rempe and Reaves weren’t on the ice together until late in the first period.
The Maple Leafs veteran appeared to say something to the Rangers’ rookie who just skated away, drawing boos from the Toronto crowd .
But when Reaves called out Rempe late in the third period, the popular new Ranger accepted after looking over to the Blueshirts bench.
It’s likely this won’t be the last bout between the two.
— with AP