Islanders rookie’s ‘dream’ NHL debut missed just one thing
PHILADELPHIA — Marshall Warren was a flash of Samuel Ersson’s glove away from his NHL debut being a fairytale.
Ersson’s robbery of Bo Horvat in overtime stopped the Islanders from getting the win on Saturday, so Warren had to settle for two assists for his boyhood team in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
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For the 24-year-old who grew up in Laurel Hollow rooting for the Islanders, it still constituted an afternoon lifted straight from his dreams — quite literally.
“You dream about it,” Warren said. “How many nights I’ve dreamt of that, when it comes to fruition, it’s really cool. Obviously would’ve liked to get the win, but it was cool hearing from everyone.”
Warren was originally drafted in 2019 by the Minnesota Wild in the sixth round, but the Islanders signed him as a college free agent in April 2024, after his rights had lapsed.
The University of Michigan product was not a highly touted prospect, but forced his way into the mix with a strong training camp and preseason.
When Alexander Romanov was put on injured reserve Thursday, Warren was called up ahead of Isaiah George — who played 33 games with the Isles last season — and when Patrick Roy decided to scratch Adam Boqvist for Saturday’s game, it was the Long Island native getting his NHL debut.
“One I’ll remember for a lifetime,” Warren said. “Really emotional.”
Most of Warren’s family made the short drive down to Philadelphia to watch him. His father, though, couldn’t, as he had to stay with Warren’s grandfather, who is currently in the hospital.
The debut itself would have been enough on its own, but Warren also recorded a pair of assists over 11:20 of ice time, which could help him stick in the lineup when the Islanders go to Boston on Wednesday.
The second of those, his shot from the blue line that was tipped in by Max Tsyplakov at 4:21 of the third, temporarily put the Isles ahead 3-2.
Whether or not Warren stays in the lineup is likely tied to Romanov’s availability. The Russian is eligible to come off IR at any time, but it’s not clear when he’ll be ready to return from an upper-body injury.
Warren, though, looks like he could be a factor for the Islanders.
“I thought he played really well,” Roy said. “Got a couple apples. He played a really good game. I was really happy for him.”
Playing three-on-three overtime for the first time this season, the Islanders started the extra period with Matthew Schaefer, Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal on the ice together.
Scott Mayfield had the first fight of the season for the Islanders, dropping gloves with Garnet Hathaway. Mayfield picked up two more penalties during the course of what was a physical game on both sides.
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