Matt Rempe will likely be a healthy scratch during Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. He did not appear on the fourth line during Thursday's practice, which is a sign he won't be in the lineup.

I am looking at head coach Peter Laviolette’s lineup card for Monday’s Garden match against the Red Wings, and I have become 12-year-old Josh Baskin at the meeting in which a line of robot-transformer toys are under discussion.

Matt Rempe spent a few days over the summer on the ice with retired enforcer Georges Laraque learning the finer points of fighting.

It was a busy offseason of training, interviews and autograph appearances for New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe, a sudden celebrity of sorts around Manhattan, who last season captured the hearts for his penchant for fighting and riling up the opponent.

Rempe was one of two lineup changes Rangers coach Peter Laviolette made, the other being D Chad Ruhwedel in for Zac Jones.

After being a healthy scratch for two consecutive games Matt Rempe will play tonight against the Maple Leafs, going head-to-head with Ryan Reaves.

Noted pugilists Matt Rempe and Ryan Reaves are expected to be in their team’s respective lineups when puck drops in Toronto (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).