New York Rangers center Matt Rempe and San Jose Sharks right wing Ryan Reaves get into a scuffle in the first period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025.JASON SZENES/ NY POST
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Matt Rempe squared off with Sharks enforcer Ryan Reaves, who once held the same role for the Rangers before the 6-foot-9 forward broke into the NHL.
The two dropped the gloves in a first-period, center-ice brawl during New York’s eventual 6-5 overtime loss to San Jose. Rempe left the ice early and did not return, sidelined with an upper-body injury. “He’s being evaluated right now for an upper-body injury,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed after the game.
Rempe exited the game after the first period with an injury.JASON SZENES/ NY POST
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Through nine games this season, Rempe has seen his role expand significantly compared to when he first joined the Rangers two seasons ago. In addition to playing in front of the net on the second power-play unit, the 23-year-old has earned more consistent ice time than ever before. He has one goal and is plus-1 through the early portion of the season.
Sullivan made adjustments to the forward lines amid New York’s home winless streak and offensive struggles. Alexis Lafrenière returned to the top line alongside Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, while Will Cuylle moved to the second line with J.T. Miller and Conor Sheary.
New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière watches the puck alongside San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov in the first period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025.JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Adam Edstrom and Sam Carrick were shifted to the third line with Taylor Raddysh, while Rempe skated alongside Juuso Parssinen and rookie Noah Laba.
New York Rangers right wing Taylor Raddysh celebrates after scoring a hat trick in the third period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025.JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Raddysh recorded just the second hat trick of his career and his first since May 14, 2023, with Chicago. It was also the first hat trick by a Ranger on home ice since Chris Kreider achieved the feat on Feb. 15, 2024. Zibanejad’s second-period power-play goal marked the 122nd of his career, tying him with Tomas Holmstrom for the sixth-most goals by a Swedish player.
On the prospect front, Nathan Aspinall signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers on Thursday after a strong start to his Ontario Hockey League season. Drafted 149th overall in 2024, the 6-foot-6, 198-pound Aspinall has six goals and four assists in six games for the Flint Firebirds and appeared in five games with the Wolf Pack last season.
