Mathieu Olivier kicked out of game for disgusting gesture towards Uvis Balinskis
Photo credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Mathieu Olivier's night ended early in Columbus. The Blue Jackets winger was ejected from Tuesday's home game against the Florida Panthers after smacking defenseman Uvis Balinskis in the groin, a low blow that drew an immediate reaction from both benches.
Olivier Sent to the Showers Early
Olivier entered the night with a reputation as one of the league's toughest players, and opponents know he plays on the edge.
Deliberate contact below the belt is something referees rarely overlook, and the ejection means Columbus had to finish the game without one of its most physical forwards.
Balinskis is a Latvian defenseman who won the 2025 Stanley Cup with Florida. He has shown he can handle himself physically, having dropped the gloves with San Jose's Collin Graf on Oct. 1.
This is not the first time Olivier has been sent off in a Blue Jackets sweater. Last fall, he took a five-minute major and game misconduct on Oct. 25 against Washington for elbowing Declan Chisholm.
He then received another on Nov. 8 for a hit from behind on Vancouver's Elias Pettersson. That was two ejections in a span of eight games.
What Comes Next
Because the play involved contact to a sensitive area, the NHL Department of Player Safety could take a closer look and decide whether further discipline is warranted.
Any suspension would hurt Columbus, which signed Olivier to a six-year, $18 million extension in March 2025 and counts on his energy and physical presence in its bottom six.
For Florida, the focus shifts back to the game itself. The Panthers entered the night at 2-2-2 and are already dealing with injuries, including goalie Jacob Markstrom leaving Monday's loss in Buffalo.
For Columbus, the message is simple: the Blue Jackets need Olivier's edge, but not at the cost of playing shorthanded or losing him to a suspension.
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