Tom Wilson Discusses Matt Rempe & How He & Capitals Plan To Approach Physical & Gritty Round 1 vs. Him & Rangers

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Growing up, New York Rangers center Matt Rempe would hype himself up for his hockey games by watching "Tom Wilson's biggest hits" compilations on YouTube. Hearing that, the Washington Capitals winger let a smile slip.

"Hmm," he nodded.

Now, the two physical forwards, prominent for their hard hits and fighting ability, will face off in the first round as the Capitals and Rangers go at it in what's sure to be a gritty series.

For Rempe, it'll be a special moment as he takes on a player he's looked up to and, frankly, modelled some of his game after.

"I like the way he plays. He plays hard, very skilled player as well. It's a guy who does a lot of different things. Obviously, I got a lot of respect for that guy," Rempe said of No. 43. "I think he's a hell of a player.... I know he's a really good competitor."

And for Wilson, it'll be fun to see what Rempe, 21, makes of the series.

Wilson, 29, is well aware of what it's like to play your first playoffs, especially when it comes to playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. He described his first crack at the playoffs as a time when he was "young and dumb," and now with more experience, he knows that Rempe will come out firing on all cylinders.

"Everyone's out there flying around with all that excitement, so I'm assuming he's going to be that way," Wilson said. "He's a young guy that's had an impact on the league and he's gonna be high-energy and trying to get their team going."

Related: Deep Breathing, Hydration & Swedish Candy Bars: Capitals' Charlie Lindgren Remaining As Chill As Ever Before First Stanley Cup Playoffs

Rempe became an overnight sensation for the Rangers, logging a whopping 71 penalty minutes and 50 hits while also picking up one goal and one assist through 17 games. The 6-foot-7 center has totalled 12 fights over the course of the 2023-24 regular season split between the NHL and AHL.

For New York, the modern-day enforcer is a godsend, especially with Wilson and the Capitals coming to town for what's likely to be a gritty series. Bad blood lingers between these two rivals, dating back to the infamous 2021 incident where Wilson unleashed what the Rangers called "a horrifying act of violence," and Rempe is good at getting under people's skin and throwing a punch or two.

Wilson, though, isn't going to be fast to buy into it.

"At this time of year, you're focused on winning games. I think fighting can take a little bit of a backseat in the playoffs, just because it's so important," Wilson said. "Every play, every shift, every puck is so important. I don't think guys want to be sitting in the box for that long period of time; you want to have an impact on the game."

It's a sign of growth for the alternate captain, who has worked to shake off his reputation over the years and be more than just a "tough guy."

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Still, the 6-foot-4 forward isn't blind to the intensity of playoff hockey; there's going to be passion. But at the end of the day, there's a job to do.

"Emotions get high and it's still the game of hockey, so I'm not gonna sit here and make any predictions," Wilson said. "We got to play the series; it's a rival we know really well. We've had playoff series against them in the past and two awesome rinks, two awesome fan bases, and that's kind of what it's all about going head to head and in the playoffs."