Matt Rempe’s latest return to the lineup was short-lived.
The Rangers sent the popular forward back down to AHL Hartford on Tuesday and called up defenseman Chad Ruhwedel.
Rempe had been called up on Monday for the team’s 5-2 loss to the Blues at Madison Square Garden. It marked just his fourth game in the lineup all season and first since Oct. 29.
Rangers center Matt Rempe #73 jumps out of the way of the puck during Monday’s game against the Blues. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Filip Chytil’s extended absence and Chris Kreider missing Monday’s game — both due to upper-body injuries — opened the door for Rempe and rookie Brett Berard to crack the lineup.
Berard made his NHL debut on Monday and registered an assist.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said both Kreider and Chytil will be on the upcoming two-game road trip, which begins Wednesday against the Hurricanes.
Chytil practiced during the team’s optional session on Tuesday, while Kreider did not. Laviolette labeled both as day-to-day.
Rempe played 9:26 on Monday, his most of the year, but was called for an unnecessary and silly roughing penalty in the third period.
Rangers defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Trailing just 3-2 with 16:16 left in the game, Rempe decked Blues winger Jake Neighbours, who was looking the other way, near the St. Louis bench.
Rempe has yet to register a point in four games this year.
Kaapo Kakko, normally a winger, played center during Monday’s loss. Laviolette had experimented with him there briefly during the team’s loss to the Flames last Thursday as Chytil’s return from injury remains unclear.
Kakko skated on the Rangers third line on Monday along with Adam Edstrom and Reilly Smith.
“I thought he played a really good game,” Laviolette said Tuesday of Kakko. “I thought he picked up speed through the middle of the ice. The line was an effective line for us. They played pretty good defense, they made good decisions with the puck, they skated hard, they brought pucks to the net. I thought they played a pretty good game.”
The Hurricanes will be looking for a bit of revenge after the Rangers eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs last year.
“They’re a rival,” Laviolette said. “We’ve seen them in the playoffs, playing really well, they’ve been a top team in the league for the past five years or so. It’ll be a good challenge.”