BOSTON — At 6-foot-7, 244 pounds, Brian Boyle is used to being the biggest man on the ice.
This year, he's not even the biggest guy on his line.
The Hingham, Mass. native and former Boston College star is playing his second year with the New York Rangers, but this year he's been joined on the fourth line by 6-foot-7, 265-pound enforcer Derek Boogaard.
"No," said Boyle, 25, when asked if he's had a linemate bigger than him. "He's enormous. It is funny, but hopefully it's for the best. My role is still to play physical and get pucks and that's something we should be able to do pretty well."
Playing with a teammate with the reputation that Boogaard carries can be a comforting feeling for most, but it doesn't mean that Boyle can avoid any physical encounters.
"It's always great to have him there, but everybody will get each other's back," said Boyle, who is in town to take on the Bruins on Saturday night (7 p.m., NESN). "Sometimes guys might not want to mess with him because he's such an established fighter, so they might come toward the other guys on the line. So I don't think of it that way too much, but it's good when he gets in there and starts banging and I get banging and the whole line gets going."
Things have been going well for Boyle, who has two goals in five games this year while making the transition from center to right wing. Changing positions is nothing new for Boyle, who flip-flopped between center and defense throughout his time in college and the minors.
"Last game was the first game I played wing," said Boyle, who played two seasons in the Los Angeles Kings' organization before being traded to New York in 2009. "I think tonight I'm starting there too. I haven't played as much wing as I have defense, but it's not bad. It's just a straight up and down game."
Boyle might not be the biggest guy on the Rangers anymore, but he's still a big hit in his hometown, and relishes every opportunity to play in Boston.
"It's definitely still special," said Boyle. "I stay here in the summer. This is where my whole family is, and there's going to be a bunch of them here tonight."
The 7 p.m. start for Saturday's game with the Bruins is a nice change of pace as well, as both of the Rangers' games in Boston last year were matinee affairs.
"We usually play them in the afternoon, it will be nice to get them at night," said Boyle. "It'll be exciting tonight. … There's the whole Boston-New York thing. Granted that's usually a different sport rivalry, but I think it will still mean something to the fan here."
And while he's proud to be a Ranger, Boyle makes it clear he hasn't abandoned his hometown teams.
"I love playing in New York," said Boyle. "It's awesome. The Rangers are a top-flight organization. But I'm still a Red Sox fan and a Patriots fan. You do have a few less buddies at the bar if you're watching a Sox game or a Pats game, but I'm not there too often anyway."
