Hat’s off to Boyle, Devils

Brian Boyle scored three times for his first career hat trick, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Penguins 5-1 last night in Pittsburgh.

Hingham product Boyle got his natural hat trick on “Hockey Fights Cancer” night in Pittsburgh. It included two power-play goals and two redirections.

The 33-year-old Boyle was diagnosed with a form of bone marrow cancer at the beginning of training camp last season. He underwent treatment, returned to the lineup last November and won the NHL’s Masterton Trophy, best exemplifying qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Canadiens 4, Islanders 3 — Joel Armia scored in the fifth round of a shootout as Montreal edged host New York.

Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin each had a goal and an assist, Artturi Lehkonen also scored and Noah Juulsen added two assists. The Canadiens rallied from two goals down to win for the fifth time in the last six meetings with the Islanders.

Antti Niemi started in place of Carey Price and made 21 saves.

Capitals 4, Oilers 2 — Alex Ovechkin scored on the power play, backup goaltender Pheonix Copley made 31 saves and host Washington ended its two-game losing streak by beating Edmonton.

The defending Stanley Cup champions came out flying two days after a mistake-filled overtime loss to Dallas. Jakub Vrana scored on his first turn with the fourth line after being demoted, and linemate Devante Smith-Pelly scored on the group’s second shift a few minutes later as the Capitals jumped all over Cam Talbot and the Oilers.

Elsewhere in the NHL — The league has suspended Winnipeg Jets forward Brendan Lemieux for two games for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck.

The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Matt Donovan to a two-year deal.