Trevor van Riemsdyk Shares Thoughts On Matt Rempe Hit That Knocked Him Out Of Series

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk found himself in the worst possible position back on Friday in Game 3 against the New York Rangers.

After making a pass back, he turned just in the knick of time to see 6-foot-7 forward Matt Rempe barreling down on him. Then, he was airborne, crashing into the boards and hitting the ice hard before immediately heading down the tunnel.

He would not play another minute of the season for D.C., who was swept in four games.

"Obviously sucked," van Riemsdyk said.

Despite critics calling for disciplinary action for Rempe and teammates rushing to his aid, van Riemsdyk took some accountability for the result of the play.

"Put myself in a bad spot there," van Riemsdyk admitted. "You got to be aware of when guys like that are on the ice and where they are at all times. Obviously, he got me pretty good. I could've done a better job of protecting myself."

Related: Tom Wilson Throws Shade At Matt Rempe, Explains Trying To Fight Him In Game 3: 'Maybe That'll Be His One Chance'

Van Riemsdyk said there have not been any lingering after-effects from the hit and that he was working his way back. He will begin training again after taking the time to recover and decompress from a long season.

Rempe, meanwhile, stood by the hit, calling it clean and saying that he was sorry to hear van Riemsdyk was hurt on the play.

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"I'm getting in on the forecheck. I'm getting in there, and my job's to finish hits there and be hard on the forecheck. I thought it was a clean hit. It was a quick play. I just went through the body," Rempe said. "Obviously you never want anyone to get hurt, and that's terrible that he's hurt and I'm sorry to hear about that. But I think it was a clean hit. I was just trying to play hard, move my feet and be physical.

"I always look at (my hits). I'm always trying to see because the big thing for me is I've got to keep everything compact. That's what I'm always looking for: no elbows I guess is one thing I've got to make sure. I'm so big that once I'm committed to a hit, I've got to make sure that everything's tucked and if guys are jumping out of the way I've got to make sure, hey, I can't stick anything out as a reactionary thing," Rempe said. "I've got to just miss the hit. I've just got to miss it. I've got to pull out of it. So when I look at that hit yesterday, it's like I went through the body. I thought everything was tucked. Everything was clean, compact. I went through the body. Just a big hit. Just caught him clean type of thing."