Sharks’ Ryan Reaves knocked down in haymaker-filled fight with Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier

Sharks winger Ryan Reaves and Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier got into a fight on Tuesday night that would’ve made some heavyweight boxers proud.

The two NHL players dropped their gloves with less than a minute remaining in the second period of their teams’ tilt at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and after some initial skating around, the two proceeded to beat on one another relentlessly.

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Olivier, 28, got things started first with a straight right hand, and after Reaves, 38, responded with a punch of his own, they traded blows for nearly 10 seconds.

Each guy ate their fair share of haymakers, but one Olivier bomb ultimately caught Reaves so flush, it knocked him to the ice. Referees quickly stepped in to break things up before Olivier could land anything further.

Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Olivier got in a wild fight during the Sharks’ home game against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. NHLI via Getty Images

Mathieu Olivier ended up knocking Ryan Reaves to the ice with a big punch. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The two were assessed five-minute majors for fighting and both skated off the ice — although Reaves appeared to be a bit woozy as he headed toward his locker room.

Following the game, which the Sharks won, 5-2, Reaves told reporters that it was “the first time I’ve ever been caught and knocked down like that.”

“But,” he added, “when you go up against a guy like that, and I’m 38, I’m getting a little older. So, eventually I was going to get caught and today was the day.”

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Reeves, though, seemed to vow it wouldn’t be the last time he and Olivier square off, as he said to the media scrum around his locker, “We’ll get him back next time.”

Sharks play the Blue Jackets next on March 28 — circle the calendars now.