For the second time in less than a week, a Nashville Predators defenseman was the victim of a dangerous hit to the head by an opponent.In the first period of the Predators’ 4-0 shutout loss at the New York Rangers on Sunday, forward Matt Rempe caught defenseman Nick Blankenburg in the head with an elbow as the two were skating along the end boards. Blankenburg went down immediately and left the game temporarily, though he returned later in the period.After the hit, Predators defenseman Andreas Englund retaliated, bloodying Rempe’s face with some punches and drawing an instigator penalty in the process.Rempe was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for elbowing, but nothing more. The officials could have called a major penalty on the play and sent it to a video review − something Predators coach Andrew Brunette wishes they’d done after Sam Bennett’s hit on Roman Josi during Tuesday’s loss to the Florida Panthers − but Rempe was given only the two-minute penalty.Blankenburg finished with one shot and one hit in 17:37 minutes, but the hit he took from Rempe was dangerous and unnecessary. Like the hit on Josi last week, it’s one the Predators will hope the league will review for possible suspension.Rempe, who has played 42 games in his NHL career, has been suspended a total of 12 games by the NHL − four for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler and eight for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. He’s also been ejected from four games for dangerous hits, including the two that led to suspensions.Though Rempe was not ejected from Sunday’s game, his penchant for elbowing and injuring opposing defensemen may lead to a call from the league. If so, it would be his third suspension and, as a repeat offender, likely a lengthy one.NYQUIST TRADED: Nashville Predators trade forward Gustav Nyquist to Minnesota Wild for second-round pickNashville (21-32-7, 49 points) already has Josi, Adam Wilsby, and Jeremy Lauzon on injured reserve.The Predators finish their three-game road trip at Boston on Tuesday (6 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.