Is NHL hockey getting too violent?

Sunday's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers was a rough one. The game featured a fight between the teams' top scorers and an all-out brawl in the third period.

Arron Asham, right, of the Pittsburgh Penguins gets a match penalty for high sticking Brayden Schenn, left, of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on Sunday in Philadelphia. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Referees handed out a total of 158 minutes in penalties. Pittsburgh's 89 minutes a record high for a Penguins playoff game. Four players were ejected from the game.

At the Detroit/Nashville game, also on Sunday, Red Wing right winger Johan Franzen speared Predator centre David Legwand as he was sitting on the Nashville bench - after Legwand grabbed Franzen's sweater. Both players were assessed penalties. In the first game of this series, Nashville captain Shea Weber was given a $2,500 US fine for slamming a Detroit player's helmet against the glass.

In the New York/Ottawa series, Senators defenceman Matt Carkner was given a one-game ban for punching a defenceless Brian Boyle, the Rangers centre, in Game 2. And New York's Carl Hagelin was suspended three games for delivering a headshot on Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Even the (relatively) staid game between Vancouver and Los Angeles Sunday night elicited strong reaction from fans commenting on Twitter:

Dear #NHL: It's getting to the point where I wouldn't let a kid watch these games. Enough. Seriously.

-- Lynne Polischuik (@lynneux) April 16, 2012

That's it. Dirty hockey. Can't watch. #canucks Night all.

-- Theresa Lalonde (@TheresaLalonde) April 16, 2012

Is NHL hockey getting too violent for you to watch, or to let your kids watch? Let us know what you think.



(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)