Matt Rempe and Rangers' fourth line comes up big in Game 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Rempe and the New York Rangers’ fourth line made their presence felt in the opener of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Jimmy Vesey had a goal and an assist, home-crowd favorite Rempe also scored, and Barclay Goodrow had two assists in the Rangers’ 4-1 win.

“Throughout the playoffs you need all four lines,” Goodrow said. “If we can chip in a goal or two, obviously that’s huge for the team. So it’s a good way to start, we’re just going to keep it going.”

The physical line got into it early as Rempe was whistled for charging to give the Capitals a power play 2:07 into the game.

After a tightly played opening period in which the Rangers outshot the Capitals 7-4, Rempe got the Rangers on the scoreboard at 4:17 of the second. He got a deflection across the front of the goal from Vesey and swept it in past goalie Charlie Lindgren.