Brian Boyle could not find a better moment to get his first ever NHL hat trick. It almost felt like he was waiting for so long, just to make it even more special. And it was special, not only for him, but surely for many people who share his fate around the world.

New Jersey Devils' forward, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia last September, scored three straight goals to help his team to a 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, which was no other, but Hockey Fights Cancer awareness night in Pittsburgh. It almost sounds like a movie script, except it is real life.

And life hit Boyle hard last year, with the diagnose, like it hits hard many ordinary people in similar situations. And he's been battling and doing great, showing enormous dedication, determination and strength of character ever since, like many ordinary people do every day.

Two weeks ago Boyle announced in public that his disease was in remission, six months earlier than originally expected by doctors. Since the diagnose he has scored 19 goals and recorded 11 assists. This season, before last night he had scored 3 in 11 games. And then you go to the ice on a cancer awareness night and score three straight. It took him 705 games to record the first NHL hat trick. And last year, he also scored on Hockey Fights Cancer awareness night. Too good to be true? But it is true.

In a way it's reminiscent of Mario Lemieux comeback after cancer treatment in 1996, when he scored a goal and had one assist against the Philadelphia Flyers, after receiving his final radiation earlier that day.

While with cancer it's always 'better safe than sorry', Boyle's hat trick capped his successful battle against the disease, making it for a great inspiration to the people who have to battle on a daily basis. And to the rest of us, who don't exactly know how it feels, it shows a more human face of professional sports.

'I love these nights. I really do' - said Boyle, quoted by nhl.com about Hockey Fights Cancer after the game. 'Sometimes you feel kind of alone. It can be a dark place at times during a cancer fight. I remember fighting it a little bit and I'm not feeling great. The worst part of it was people feel sorry for you. They don't know what to say. You want them to feel comfortable around you.'

These are words that resonate. But last night actions maybe spoke even louder than words.