Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier fined for slashing Panthers’ Uvis Balinskis

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier has been assessed a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the terms of the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, by the NHL Department of Player Safety for the slashing infraction he committed against Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis on Tuesday night.

The play took place during the second period of what went down as a 7-3 victory for the Panthers over the Blue Jackets when Olivier took exception to some physicality along the boards without the puck nearby from Balinskis, ultimately proceeding to slash the Latvian defenseman in the groin, sending him to the ice.

Balinskis was able to remain in the game, while Olivier was assessed a five-minute major and was ejected. A physical player who has established himself as one of the top fighters in the sport, this is the first time in Olivier’s career in which he’s had supplemental discipline doled out to him.

Through five games this season, Olivier has already racked up 27 penalty minutes while recording two points, both goals. The Mississippi native is in his eighth season in the NHL, and in 316 career regular season appearances, he has notched 94 points on 48 goals and 46 assists while serving 506 minutes worth of penalties.

The win was a much-needed one for a Panthers team that is going without star forwards Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand. Struggling new acquisition Brady Tkachuk registered a historic natural hat trick to get his season going, and Florida improved its record to 3-2-2.

Columbus, on the other hand, fell to 2-3-0 with the loss and drew the ire of head coach Rick Bowness, who blasted his players in his postgame remarks. The Jackets will have the opportunity to right the ship when they host the surging New York Rangers on Saturday night.