Mathieu Olivier knew he'd drawn Buffalo Sabres' ire, not added penalty

Mathieu Olivier, the Blue Jackets' leading enforcer, found himself at odds with the unwritten rules of hockey after a fight at Nationwide Arena. On October 1, just nine seconds into the second period, Olivier sparked a skirmish by tapping the puck into the empty net. Though he wasn't required to do so, Olivier chose to add violence to the situation, knowing the Sabres wouldn't appreciate it.

Buffalo's Zach Metz chased down Olivier, who then dropped gloves and finished the fight bare-knuckled. Olivier admitted he likely knew the repercussions, stating, "I would expect our team to defend our crease and our goalie." However, he didn't foresee the minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct he would receive, which, combined with a five-minute major for fighting, left the Blue Jackets with a 5-on-3 disadvantage.