Boyle steals show in Devils victory over Vancouver

The New Jersey Devils are back in the win column after Friday night's matchup with the Vancouver Canucks. It's the second win this month against the Canucks, as the Devils improve to 13-5-4 on the season. It was also an evening with a truly special storyline for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

Tweet from @NJDevils: #VANvsNJD is underway on #HockeyFightsCancer Night! pic.twitter.com/eZUxbNuw5K
Here are 10 takeaways from the game:
1. The Devils hosted their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night at The Rock. Brian Boyle took the ceremonial faceoff with his family in attendance. His wife Lauren, son Declan and daughter Isabella dropped the puck alongside several other children who are bravely fighting cancer.

Boyle spoke with NewJerseyDevils.com before the game about having his family in attendance for the ceremony.
"I am very excited," he said. "All good things. I just, hopefully can keep it together. They've been through so much too. It's nice. So hopefully my son drops the puck and doesn't try to run away with it!" (Note: He didn't run away with the puck!)

2. The Devils had a special guest read their starting lineup against the Canucks. Abdiel Collazo was named Coach for the Day as part of the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Collazo spent the day alongside coach John Hynes, prepping the team for game day and even getting the chance to read out the starting lineup before puck drop.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Honorary Coach Abdiel reads tonight���s lineup and wishes the #NJDevils luck prior to #VANvsNJD! #HockeyFightsCancer | #BoyleStrong pic.twitter.com/TnSXyOolxz
   3. Coach John Hynes made one switch in his lineup, bringing Stefan Noesen back into the fold. Noesen played on the fourth line with Brian Gibbons and Blake Coleman after sitting out the last two games as a healthy scratch.
   4. The Devils and Canucks entered the second period tied at 0-0. The Canucks halted the Devils' run of six games in which they scored in the first period.
   5. The second period was a lot more fruitful for the Devils. Taylor Hall picked up three points in that period alone. He registered a goal and two assists, bringing his season total to a team-leading 24 points in 22 games.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Now, that's what we call a Hall in one! #VANvsNJD pic.twitter.com/brfNIGTTMo
   Hall has had plenty of success against the Canucks over his career with the Oilers and Devils. In 33 games, he has 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points.
   6. There were chants of "Brian! Boyle!" as Boyle picked up his second goal of the season. He had said after the morning skate that it would be very special to contribute on the scoreboard on Hockey Fights Cancer Night, and contribute he did. Boyle broke a 1-1 tie at 10:17 of the second period to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: You can't script it any better than that. #HockeyFightsCancer �� | #BoyleStrong �� pic.twitter.com/EZcJuY1UVs
   7. The Devils didn't stop at two goals during the second period. Damon Severson registered the team's third goal at 15:45 to give New Jersey a 3-1 lead. Hall and Hischier both picked up assists on the play. Have a look at the goal below:

8. The Devils played the first game of a back-to-back situation for the fifth time this season. The Devils will play a total of 16 back-to-backs during the 2017-18 season. New Jersey has posted a record 4-10 in first games of back-to-backs.
   9. Hischier had a strong night playing 14:36, was a plus-2 and registered two shots on net. Hischier had been disappointed after the game against the Bruins for not burying his chances he felt he should have. On Friday night, Hischier picked up his 16th point of the season, an assist on Severson's goal.
   10. The Devils are right back to work with a stop in Detroit on Saturday night, in the second half of a back-to-back. They return to The Rock Monday to host Florida.
   Tickets are available.