The violence-filled first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this season has been labeled “disgraceful” and “out of control” and even something that has “degenerated into open warfare.”

Well, for a counterpunch – er, point – we ventured into the Devils locker room this morning. And Cam Janssen, never shy to initiate contact or express an opinion, did not disappoint.

“I think it is UNBELIEVABLY great for the game of hockey!” the popular enforcer yelled.

Be clear on this: Janssen is not talking about the headhunting. He is not condoning the most outrageous hit from these playoffs, when Nashville defenseman Shea Weber smashed Detroit star Henrik Zetterberg into the glass from behind and received a laughable $2,500 fine.

He is also not endorsing what Ottawa tough guy Matt Carkner did in Game 2 of that series against the Rangers, when he challenged Rangers forward Brian Boyle to a fight and, when Boyle refused, sucker punched him to earn a one-game suspension for what the NHL declared “continuing to inflict punishment upon an opponent who was an unwilling combatant.”

Janssen, for the record, would have taken a different approach.

“You call a guy out. You embarrass him in front of everybody. And if he doesn’t fight you, you skate away and you go after their skill guys,” he said. “But you don’t take penalties. It’s a seven-game series, you gotta be patient with that, and you gotta find the right time to use your physical presence in the right way.”

But the rest? The all-out melee that the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia series has become? The feeling that permeates every arena during these playoffs that, at any moment, one collision could lead to all the passion bubbling over into something else entirely?

Janssen isn’t apologizing for that. And you know something? The guy makes a pretty good point. Nobody wants to see a player get hurt. But the rest of it – the unfiltered, unapologetic, unmistakable hatred between opponents – makes for some pretty compelling theater.

You can disagree, but you’re probably watching. Ratings on NBC are up 50 percent from a year ago, and Game 3 of the Pens-Flyers series registered the best overnight rating in a decade for a non-Cup finals game.

The early rounds of the hockey playoffs are part of the national conversation in a way that they haven’t been in years.

“You turn on the TV and everybody is talking about it,” Janssen said. “It’s on Fox News, it’s on CNN, it’s on everywhere. You don’t want to see anybody get injured, you don’t want to take away from the skill aspect.

“But it just shows how passionate these series are and how passionate playoff hockey is, and it just shows you right there that guys are into it, they’re protecting their teammates, and it’s a battle. And it’s great to see that.”

Told that “great to see” are not exactly the words being used by some critics, and Mount Janssen erupts.

“Oh, who are they KIDDING?!” Janssen said. “You think they got up and went to the bathroom when all that was going on?! I don’t think so! They can complain all they want, but they’re still watching it.

“Like I said, some of it is a little out of hand, but that’s part of the game! That kind of stuff happens! But the guys that whine, ‘Oh, bad for the game,’ they’re watching it just like everyone else is!”

The critics and Janssen do largely agree on one point: That Brendan Shanahan, the league’s discipline czar, has mishandled his job. Giving Rangers rookie Carl Hagelin a three-game suspension for a hit on Daniel Alfredsson because the Ottawa veteran sustained a concussion, while letting Weber off with nothing for a clear attack, sends a poor message.

The league is punishing players based on the injuries, not on the act. Even then, Janssen doesn’t think increasing the fines or suspensions will do much to change the game.

“What, you’re going to suspend somebody for 10 games and ruin their whole playoffs because he punched somebody in the face? Really?” he asked. “Everybody is going to be so scared to do anything it’s going to take the passion out of the game. Nobody wants that.”

Really, what everybody wants is an entertaining, exciting and unpredictable product. To that, Commissioner Janssen insists, the state of the Stanley Cup playoffs is just fine, thank you very punch – er, much.

Steve Politi: spoliti@starledger.com; Twitter: @StevePoliti.