{"id":509065,"date":"2026-03-18T05:15:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/509065\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T05:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:15:16","slug":"nic-deslauriers-fights-mathieu-olivier-in-hurricanes-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/509065\/","title":{"rendered":"Nic Deslauriers Fights Mathieu Olivier in Hurricanes Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Carolina Hurricanes acquired<\/a> Nicolas Deslauriers, everyone knew he would end up dropping the gloves in his first few games. But, I don\u2019t think many anticipated he would fight before he even played half of his debut game.<\/p>\n

I highly doubt that anyone suspected that fight would be against an enforcer with an equally legendary resume in Mathieu Olivier. However, when Deslauriers skated over to Olivier during warmups and exchanged some brief words, there was a feeling there may be a dust-up.<\/p>\n

With the game almost halfway through, the Hurricanes were lifeless and in need of a spark, and Deslauriers provided just that.<\/p>\n

The clock stopped with 10:22 left in the second period as gloves hit the cold, hard ice in the neutral zone. Deslauriers and Olivier sized each other up, slowly approaching each other before Deslauriers made the first swipe, then followed it up with a punch.<\/p>\n

From there, the fists went flying \u2013 exchanging haymakers and yanking at one anothers\u2019 sweaters. Amidst the blows, Olivier acquired a bloody jaw after a punch from the Hurricanes\u2019 enforcer, however, it appeared that the blood was courtesy of Deslauriers\u2019 busted knuckle.<\/p>\n

For Deslauriers, it was the 137th fight of his career, and for Olivier, the 112th. Both held their ground well, and ultimately, neither won nor lost in combat terms.<\/p>\n

However, the Hurricanes certainly gained a momentary advantage from the spark provided, as Andrei Svechnikov scored<\/a> Carolina\u2019s first, and sadly only goal of the game, before Deslauriers even stepped out of the penalty box.<\/p>\n

Discussions About the Dust-Up<\/p>\n

In the second intermission, Svechnikov was tapped for the interview, where he took a moment to share his reaction to Deslauriers\u2019 contribution.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust feels good, to be honest,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cYou know, we didn\u2019t have that for a while kind of, but feels good. \u2026Just yeah big respect for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the game, Deslauriers was asked about the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I live for, you know,\u201d Deslauriers told the media<\/a>. \u201cI wish I could score goals, but these are the moments for me that, you know, I feel that I did something good.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re in the box \u2013 I know sometimes I\u2019m there for long \u2013 but when we score, and I\u2019m in there after a job I did, I was as happy as if I scored a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

WATCH: Nicolas Deslauriers Drops the Gloves with Columbus Blue Jackets\u2019 Enforcer Mathieu Olivier in Hurricanes Debut<\/p>\n

Nicolas Deslauriers VS Mathieu Olivier\ud83d\udd14\ud83e\udd4a
Two of the most respected enforcers in the NHL dropped the gloves at center ice in Columbus
Deslauriers is playing his first game with the Carolina Hurricanes after his trade from the Philadelphia Flyers at the deadline#CarolinaCulture<\/a>\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Zwdnv8hzBZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) March 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\"avatar\"<\/p>\n

\t\tRachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on Sportsnaut. Painting stories with … More about Rachel Barkley<\/a><\/p>\n

\t