Columbus enforcer Mathieu Olivier turned a dead play into a melee when he tapped the puck into Buffalo’s empty net after the whistle, sparking a fight and giving the Sabres a 5-on-3.
The Blue Jackets’ Cole Sillinger was whistled for hooking at 3:58 of the second period. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen headed to the bench for an extra attacker during the delayed penalty. After the whistle stopped play, Olivier tapped the puck into the open net.
Buffalo’s Zach Metsa took immediate exception, slashing Olivier’s stick. The Jackets’ tough guy objected to that and started throwing punches, landing some bombs on Metsa, who gives up a good five inches on Olivier.
The officials sorted it out, handing out 14 minutes in penalties during the stoppage:
- CBJ Cole Sillinger – 2:00, hooking (the initial call)
- CBJ Mathieu Olivier – 2:00, unsportsmanlike conduct (for the post-whistle tap-in)
- CBJ Mathieu Olivier – 5:00, fighting
- BUF Zach Metsa – 5:00, fighting
The unsportsmanlike call on Olivier falls under Rule 75, even though it’s not specifically spelled out in the rulebook.
With Sillinger and Olivier both picking up minor penalties, Buffalo got a full two minutes of 5-on-3. The Sabres failed to take advantage, unable to score on the two-man, two-minute power play.
The Jackets went on to defeat the Sabres 6-3. Officials for the game were referees Jon McIsaac (#2) and Francis Charron (#6) with linespersons Jesse Marquis (#86) and Libor Suchanek (#60).
