New Jersey Devils: Hopefully Brian Boyle Can Return For His Special Night
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils have a special bond with Hockey Fights Cancer night thanks to Brian Boyle. It would be a real shame if he had to miss that night due to injury.
The New Jersey Devils have been missing Brian Boyle from the lineup for a few games now. The big bodied center has been sorely missed on the fourth line and the top-line power play unit. He’s having a good start to the year, highlighted by a hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
What made that game so special was Boyle was playing on the Pens Hockey Fights Cancer night. This man always seems to step up his game on those special nights. That’s because this fight is about as personal as it comes for Boyle and his family.
Earlier this season, we learned that Boyle has officially beaten chronic myeloid leukemia. When he was diagnosed last season, it came as a shock to the NHL system. Everyone seemed to like Boyle around the league, so hearing this player was now fighting cancer hit everyone around the league.
Boyle returned in time for the Devils Hockey Fights Cancer night last season, and in true Boyle fashion he scored a very important goal. It was a magical night for a player that keeps pulling out these types of accomplishments.
That’s why today’s seemingly small announcement was so important.
Brian Boyle and Sami Vatanen both skated this morning on their own.
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) November 20, 2018
Neither will participate in todays #NJDevils official practice.
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We hear about players skating on their own all the time, but this one happened with about enough time for Boyle to return on Friday. He will likely miss tomorrow’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, but I would have to imagine that head coach John Hynes will do everything he can to get Boyle into the lineup.
It’s harder to figure out what’s going on since the Devils haven’t exactly released what caused Boyle to be sidelined in the first place. Either way, we should all hope he’s ready to go against the New York Islanders.
If Boyle is not in the lineup for Hockey Fights Cancer night, it will feel like something is missing the entire time. To celebrate this man’s achievements without him on the ice for an injury would be a real shame.