All-star Boyle gets huge ovation from fans at Amalie Arena

They still love Brian Boyle at Amalie Arena.

The Tampa Bay Lightning faithful cheered the New Jersey Devils forward as if he was still one of their own on Saturday night during introductions before the 2018 GIECO NHL All-Star Skills Competition.

Boyle, making his first all-star appearance, played for the Lightning for two-plus seasons, including playing a pivotal role on the 2014-15 team that won the Eastern Confernce before falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.
Boyle was
diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia
prior to this season. He returned to the Devils on Nov. 1 and has 17 points in 38 games for the Devils (24-16-8, 56 points). Boyle was added to the Metropolitan Division All-Star Team to replace teammate Taylor Hall, who is injured.

The ovation Boyle received was rivaled only by the cheers for the five Lightning all-stars, Nkita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos Victor Hedman [who will not play due to injury] and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
And the love Boyle was shown was more than returned. In a recorded message Boyle thanked the Lightning fans for all of the support.