Detroit Red Wings right wing Todd Bertuzzi is led to the penalty box by linesman Scott Driscoll after Bertuzzi fought with Nashville Predators defenceman Shea Weber in the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Friday, April 13, 2012, in Nashville.Mark Humphrey/The Associated Press
All those fights and misconducts are adding up.
After 28 games, the 2012 NHL playoffs are on pace to be some of the most penalty filled since the 2004-05 lockout, with total penalty minutes up 31 per cent over what they were in the last postseason.
While games are averaging roughly as many power plays as they always have (eight per game), the extracurricular activity that includes dropping the gloves and getting tossed out of games have greatly contributed to that rise.
There have been nearly three times as many major penalties called per game as there were in the last two playoff years (nearly one a game) and far more 10 minute or game misconducts and match penalties (also nearly one a game).
These numbers will likely dip as the playoffs go on and games get tighter, but with half the teams about to be eliminated, nearly one-third of this year's playoff games have already been played.
Here's a closer look at all the numbers:
Finally, for good measure, here's a look at overall goals scored, per game, in the playoffs over the last four playoff years.
Scoring has generally been slightly higher in the postseason than the regular season in recent years, a trend that has so far continued this season.
Historically, the playoffs were almost always lower scoring, and why that's changed isn't entirely clear.
NHL teams scored an average of 5.32 goals a game during the regular season this year, so going up to 5.68 is rather signficant on the whole.
It's all coming from one series, however, as Penguins-Flyers has averaged an incredible 11.25 goals per game. Minus that series, the playoffs have averaged just 4.75 goals per game.