Two seconds.
That is how long it took for the "Battle of the Hudson" to descend into absolute, unadulterated chaos on April 3, 2024. Most hockey games start with a simple faceoff, a bit of feeling out, and maybe a conservative dump-in to the corner. Not this one. Before the echo of the whistle even faded, Madison Square Garden erupted as all ten skaters on the ice dropped their gloves simultaneously.
It wasn't just a "scuffle." It was a five-on-five line brawl that looked like a scene ripped straight out of 1970s hockey, and honestly, it was the most predictable "surprise" in the history of the NHL.
Why the Devils Rangers Hockey Fight Was Inevitable
To understand why the ice looked like a scene from Slap Shot, you have to look back at the weeks leading up to that night. This wasn't some random explosion of temper; it was a debt being collected.
The primary catalyst was Matt Rempe, the Rangers' 6-foot-7 rookie who had spent his first few weeks in the league playing like a human wrecking ball. In a previous matchup on March 11, Rempe had caught Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler with a high elbow. The hit left Siegenthaler with a concussion and Rempe with a four-game suspension.
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Between that hit and an earlier incident where Rempe injured Nathan Bastian, the Devils were fuming. They felt Rempe was taking liberties and refusing to "answer the bell" when challenged by New Jersey’s veteran tough guy, Kurtis MacDermid.
So, when the lineups were announced for the April 3 game, everyone with a pulse knew what was coming. Both Peter Laviolette and Travis Green started their fourth lines. It was a clear signal: We’re doing this now.
The Combatants and the Fallout
When the puck hit the ice, it wasn't just Rempe and MacDermid. Everyone went. Here is the breakdown of who squared off during the Devils Rangers hockey fight:
- Matt Rempe vs. Kurtis MacDermid: The main event. These two heavyweights stood at center ice and traded haymakers for nearly a minute while the other fights cleared around them.
- Barclay Goodrow vs. Kevin Bahl: A mismatch in size, but Goodrow didn't back down.
- Jacob Trouba vs. Chris Tierney: The Rangers captain taking on a player not exactly known for his fighting prowess.
- K’Andre Miller vs. John Marino: A rare sight to see two mobile, top-four defensemen dropping the mitts.
- Jimmy Vesey vs. Curtis Lazar: This was actually the "official" first fight, a technicality that saved them from ejection.
Because of a specific NHL rule—Rule 46.7—any player who engages in a fight after the original altercation has started is automatically assessed a game misconduct. Since the officials deemed Vesey and Lazar were the first to go, they stayed in the game. The other eight? Gone.
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Just two seconds in, and both benches were short four players. The Rangers lost their captain and two of their top-four defensemen. The Devils lost their primary muscle and half their blueline.
The Coaches' War of Words
The mayhem didn't stay on the ice. In one of the most viral moments of the season, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette and Devils interim coach Travis Green were seen screaming at each other from their respective benches.
It was raw. It was heated. Laviolette was later quoted saying he didn't know a full line brawl was coming, but he was "proud" of his players for sticking up for one another. Green, on the other hand, pointed the finger squarely at the Rangers, suggesting they were the ones "lining up fights" before the puck even dropped.
You've gotta love the old-school gamesmanship. Even after the eight ejections, the tension didn't dissipate. Will Cuylle and Dawson Mercer ended up fighting later in the first period just to keep the energy going. By the time the first intermission rolled around, the box score looked like a CVS receipt, totaling 162 penalty minutes.
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Why This Fight Still Matters for the Rivalry
The Devils and Rangers have been hating each other since 1982, but the rivalry had arguably gone a bit "corporate" in recent years. This brawl changed the tone. It proved that despite the NHL's efforts to move away from the "Enforcer Era," the deep-seated regional animosity of the Battle of the Hudson can still boil over.
The Rangers eventually won that game 4-3, but the score was almost secondary to the statement made. For Rangers fans, it was about protecting their young giant, Rempe. For Devils fans, it was about standing up to a team they felt was playing a "predatory" style of hockey.
Key Takeaways from the Brawl
If you're looking for the "why" behind the carnage, here are the facts:
- Safety vs. Tradition: The league's Department of Player Safety had already suspended Rempe once, but the "code" of the players demanded a physical response that the rulebook couldn't provide.
- Rookie Impact: Matt Rempe played only 5 minutes and 3 seconds across three games against the Devils that season, yet he managed 47 penalty minutes and three ejections. That’s an absurd stat line.
- The Record Books: Luke Hughes ended up playing nearly 33 minutes for the Devils because their defensive rotation was so decimated by the ejections—a franchise record for a rookie.
Moving Forward
If you're watching a Devils-Rangers game in the future, don't just look at the stars like Artemi Panarin or Jack Hughes. Keep an eye on the fourth-line matchups and the history of hits from previous games. In this rivalry, the past is never really buried; it's just waiting for the next opening faceoff.
To stay ahead of the next big rivalry moment, pay attention to the "Tale of the Tape" whenever these teams meet. Look for who is in the starting lineup—if the "tough guys" are taking the opening draw, grab your popcorn. You can also check the NHL Department of Player Safety's Twitter feed for any carryover suspensions that might fuel the fire for the next meeting at the Prudential Center or the Garden.