Boyle scores on NHL Fights Cancer Night
BRIAN BOYLE scored one of the most meaningful goals of his career to help the Devils beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Friday night.
The Devils were marking “Hockey Fights Cancer Night,” a battle especially meaningful to Boyle, who was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia during training camp and missed the first 10 games of the season while undergoing treatment.
“It’s part of a club you don’t necessarily want to be in,” Boyle said of his fellow cancer survivors who attended the game. “I’m doing really well. I feel great. The support from everybody here, all you guys (gesturing to the fans), unbelievable.”
The Prudential Center erupted with cheers when Boyle, set up by a beautiful drop pass from Will Butcher, scored at 10:17 of the second period to snap a 1-1 tie.
“He has a flair for the dramatic. It gives you chills,” said Taylor Hall who sparked the Devils with a goal and two assists.
Damon Severson also scored for New Jersey and Cory Schneider made 23 saves to improve to 6-1-2 against the team that made him a first-round draft pick in 2004.
ISLANDERS 5, FLYERS 4 (OT): Defenseman Nick Leddy snapped a shot past Philadelphia goalie Brian Elliott 2:44 into overtime to give the New York Islanders a victory over the host Flyers.
Rookie Mathew Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck, Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd scored in regulation and Thomas Greiss made 26 saves to help the Islanders win for the fifth time in six games. They moved six points ahead of the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Ladd tied it with 7:49 left, scoring off a pass from Eberle from about 5 feet in front of the crease.
Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier scored in the second period for the Flyers.
They blew a 4-2 lead in the third to lose for the seventh straight time. The Islanders also beat the Flyers in overtime Wednesday night, a 4-3 decision in Brooklyn.Elliott made 32 saves for Philadelphia. The Islanders drew within a goal at 4:12 of the third.
—AP