Hingham Native Scores Game-Winner For NY Rangers

Hingham native Brian Boyle lifted the New York Rangers past the Ottawa Senators last night by scoring the only goal of a nerve rattling 1-0 game.

With the goal, Boyle and the Rangers take a 2-1 lead in a Best of 7 NHL playoff series against the Senators.

“A lot of us can follow his lead, and that’s what he’s doing right now, is leading,” Rangers’ head coach John Tortorella said in a press conference after the game.

Boyle’s goal came 7:35 into third period to break a scoreless tie and is his second game winning goal of the series. He also notched the game-winner in Game 1 and scored a goal in Game 2.

But although his heroic goals have secured wins for the Rangers, the Hingham native will best be known in this series as the villain for Ottawa fans.

In Game 2, Boyle engaged in several scuffles, most noticeably with Senators defenseman Matt Carkner.  Just 2:15 into Game 2, Carkner was ejected after he left his position to attack Boyle who then appeared defenseless on the ice while Carkner pummeled him.

According to an Associated Press article on Yahoo Sports, Boyle said he embraces his role as the villain.

''If I'm the villain to them that's good,'' Boyle said. ''If I knew (I would score this often) I probably would have tried to do it a lot earlier. It's been fortunate bounces.'' 

The son of Judy and Artie Boyle of Hingham, Brian grew up in an enormous Irish-Catholic family with 12 siblings.  Boyle attended high school at St. Sebastian's School in Needham and played college hockey at BC.