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.…