It was a sight nobody wants to see: A stretcher being rolled onto the ice in the middle of a hockey game. 

Laying on it would eventually be San Jose Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle, who was rocked by a vicious hit from behind by St. Louis Blues forward Max Lapierre in the first period of San Jose's 6-2 win on Tuesday night.

Boyle ventured into the corner to play a puck in his own zone when Lapierre flew in with some speed and drilled Boyle, whose jaw appeared to be crushed into the top edge of the boards. The veteran collapsed immediately and lay motionless on the ice for several minutes when trainers rushed to his aid in the corner. 

The incident incited a centre-ice melee but Boyle was still down through the entire scrum, eventually being taken off on the stretcher. 

While at first he appeared unresponsive, the Sharks' official Twitter feed reported the blue-liner 37-year-old Ottawa native was alert and moving his extremities at the hospital. 

As for Lapierre? He may get a very unwanted phone call from NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. He was also given a five-minute major for a check from behind and a game misconduct. 

Take a look at the video above and judge for yourself: Should Lapierre be suspended? Why or why not?