The New York Rangers dropped a crucial game Tuesday night, losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, and one moment in the second period drew particular attention online.
Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe attempted to spark his team with a fight against Kings forward Tanner Jeannot with the game tied at 1-1 at the end of the second period, but things didn’t go as planned.
The two dropped gloves at center ice, began to grapple, and before any punches were thrown, Rempe lost his balance and tumbled to the ice.
Jeannot appeared to hold back, and officials quickly stepped in, putting an end to a fight that never truly was one.
The game itself saw the Rangers fall behind after J.T. Miller’s early goal in the second period was answered by power-play tallies from Kevin Fiala and Phillip Danault, the latter one shortly after the failed fight.
Fiala added an empty-netter to seal the Kings’ seventh straight win at home just 15 seconds from the end of the game.
“I thought we did a really good job of playing that game but we walk away with nothing," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said after the game. “It’s disappointing. It’s frustrating.
”You can’t take anything from that.”
New York (34-32-6) has now lost five of its last six and remains one point behind the Montreal Canadiens (33-28-9) for the final wild-card spot in the East.
The Rangers also share the same number of points as the New York Islanders, who hold two games in hand on the Rangers.