‘Old school hockey is back’ NHL fans react to Rangers star Matt Rempe and Flyers’ Nicolas Deslauriers’ epic fight

NHL fans have been treated to a heavyweight bout reminiscent of the good old days.

During the New York Rangers' 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, towering rookie Matt Rempe and Philly veteran Nicolas Deslauriers battled it out in the first period at the Wells Fargo Center.

The 6-foot-7, 241-pound Rangers star and the 6-foot-1 220-pound vet dropped gloves with seventeen to go in the first, as cheers rained down upon them from the crowd.

"This started in the warm-up," explained ESPN's Ray Ferraro as their around 40-second-long face-off commenced.

The two went at it, matching one another blow for blow as neither dropped to the ice.

Even Ferraro and play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough were stunned, remaining largely silent throughout before the former commented, "You don't see many of these anymore."

"No you don't," McDonough said.

"I was just thinking of that. Reminiscent of the old days in this rivalry."

Eventually having pulled Rempe's jersey over most of his head, Deslauriers shoved his opponent to the ice before officials intervened to pull them apart.

"I don't remember I've seen a scrap like that in an NHL game," admitted McDonough.

And fans were equally excited by the tilt, if comments on X, formerly known as Twitter, are to be believed.

"This kid is bringing old school hockey back," commented one user.

"We all miss this. Aka old school fans," wrote a second.

"10-10 draw. Give both guys a fight of the year bonus," a third said.

While a fourth added, "Send them to UFC!!!"

Post-game, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette told reporters he felt the fight had been "A good one for sure."

His Flyers counterpart, John Tortorella, was similarly impressed, commenting, "That's a good, old-fashioned hockey fight there."

Speaking to ESPN after the game, Rempe said he felt it was a "Hell of a tilt," calling Deslauriers "A great warrior."

He also described his goal as "Probably the ugliest first goal in NHL history, but I'll take it.

"It was just unreal, I'm having a blast."

Speaking just six days on from his NHL debut against the New York Islanders, Rempe said it had been a "Very eventful first week.

"I'm loving it. I wanna bring that physicality."