New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle collects his first-career NHL hat trick in epic fashion on Hockey Fights Cancer night.
The reason sports are great is due to one unexplainable reason. Every so often, a non-fictitious script is written in which Hollywood couldn’t conjure up if it had all the time in the world.
Monday night in Pittsburgh dared to dream up such a script when New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle recorded his first NHL hat trick on Hockey Fights Cancer night.
Boyle tallied three goals, his fourth, fifth and sixth of the season, in his team’s impressive 5-1 road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Amazing.
New Jersey Devil Brian Boyle was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Tonight, he got his first career hat trick … on Hockey Fights Cancer night.pic.twitter.com/dsGDpX9Sk3
— ESPN (@espn) November 6, 2018
❤️?
2017 drabbades Brian Boyle av leukemi. Inatt, under #HockeyFightsCancer night, slog Devils-forwarden till med karriärens första hattrick. pic.twitter.com/aopfsq1Ffa
— Viasat Hockey (@ViasatHockeySE) November 6, 2018
He accomplished the feat in the first two periods and on the night (Hockey Fights Cancer) that perfectly exemplifies his character as a whole.
Boyle, 33, was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in which he released a statement in September of 2017. After missing some time, Boyle’s public battle has led him back to the ice with his cancer in remission.
To snag his first career hat trick on Hockey Fights Cancer night is simply astonishing, via AP.
‘I love these nights, I really do,” Boyle said. ”Just the initiative and seeing the survivors on the ice and being recognized. Sometimes you feel kind of alone. It can be a dark place at times during a cancer fight. But to be seen, the support everybody shows and the money raised, it’s just a phenomenal thing.”
The former New York Rangers fourth-line center has found a tidy home across the Hudson. The Devils, leaving the night with a winning record (6-5-1, 13 points), appreciate Boyle as one of their hardened leaders among a young group.
With or without cancer, he just “gets it.” He always has.
”There’s ups and downs, just like life,” Boyle said. ”The worst kind of part of it was when people felt sorry for you. They don’t know what to say, and you want them to feel comfortable around you. I think it’s important to reach out and ask questions if you need help.”
Brian Boyle feels "pretty good" after his 1st career hat trick. ??
See the goals & hear his thoughts as he talks to @ErikaWachter.#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/lRzo2XxcKx
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) November 6, 2018
Next up for Brian Boyle and the New Jersey Devils will be the John Tavares-led Maple Leafs in Toronto on Friday night.
