Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier Receives Maximum Fine For Slashing Panthers' Uvis Balinskis

The Florida Panthers were at their best on Tuesday, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3.

The power play clicked on all cylinders, and in the end the Panthers saw three goals and four points from Brady Tkachuk, two goals and three points from Sam Reinhart, and five assists from Matthew Tkachuk.

The Blue Jackets grew more frustrated as the game progressed, which resulted in Mathieu Olivier, alternate captain for the Blue Jackets, slashing Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis in a sensitive area, giving him what some refer to as a "cup check."

Olivier was assessed a five-minute major for slashing and received a 10-minute misconduct. Olivier is known as an enforcer and one of the NHL's most feared fighters. 

The 29-year-old has no history of NHL suspensions, which likely explains why the Department of Player Safety assessed only a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the CBA. 

Balinskis did not suffer any injuries on the play and finished the game with 16:19 of time on ice. 

The Blue Jackets and Panthers don't play again until Nov. 10. It will be interesting to see whether any Panthers players, or even Balinskis, ask Olivier to answer for his actions. 

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