Mathieu Olivier fights Nicolas Deslauriers in the “fight of the year”

Mathieu Olivier and Nicolas Deslauriers threw down in what is being called the fight of the year on Tuesday. Now, fans are praising the duo for how they handled the heavyweight tilt like true gentlemen.

The Columbus Blue Jackets earned two very important points with a 5–1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The victory puts the Blue Jackets just one point away from the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ten-game point streak

With the win, the Blue Jackets are now riding a ten-game point streak. Beating the top team in the East gave them a significant confidence boost.
“Our pressure has been something to reckon with over the past two months. Tonight, against a team like that that’s been at the top of the Eastern Conference for a long time, just proves that our team has taken the step needed to make the playoffs and, obviously, be competitive. It shows that we’re a club that can play with anyone,” Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier told NHL.com after the game.

Mathieu Olivier vs. Nicolas Deslauriers

Olivier scored a goal in the game and also dropped the gloves in what fans are calling the fight of the season against fellow heavyweight Nicolas Deslauriers. The two were seen talking before the faceoff, and midway through the second period, they squared off at center ice. Both threw heavy punches, with one leaving Olivier bloodied. Now, fans are praising the pair for their sportsmanship and the way they handled the fight.

“For as much as I appreciate Olivier when he takes fights to stand up for his guys, I love seeing a respect bout like that and another guy going toe-to-toe with him. Great tilt from both of them,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
“That was a good fight. I like the civility at the end—let’s fight and mutually agree when we’re done. That’s how men should be,” another wrote.
“That was the most gentlemanly tilt I’ve ever seen,” a third added.
You can watch the fight below.