PHILADELPHIA — Laurel Hollow’s Marshall Warren notched two points in his NHL debut but the Flyers rallied for a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday afternoon at Xfinity Mobile Arena to snap the Islanders’ four-game winning streak, though they still have a five-game point streak.
Warren, a 24-year-old defenseman who was paired with Tony DeAngelo, took the traditional rookie lap without his helmet. He then stepped onto the ice for his first NHL shift at 1:13 of the first period.
Technically, he became the third native Long Islander to play a game for the Islanders after Port Jefferson’s Chris Ferraro (1999-2000) and Smithtown’s Kyle Palmieri (2021-present), though Richie Hansen (1977-79) grew up in Northport after being born in the Bronx.
And in a sign that opposing fans have already taken notice of Matthew Schaefer, the 18-year-old first overall pick was booed the first time he touched the puck in the match.
It marked the start of a four-game road trip for the Islanders, who next play in Boston on Tuesday night.
Trevor Zegras, getting open below the right circle, took Christian Dvorak’s feed to tie it at 2-2 at 1:54 of the third period.
But Warren, recalled from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Thursday, had his blue-line blast tipped by Max Tsyplakov at 4:21 as the Islanders regained a 3-2 lead. Zegras’ power-play goal at 7:32 again knotted the match.
Warren became the Islanders’ third rookie this season to score in their debut after Schaefer and Max Shabanov. He also found Anthony Duclair open off the right post from the left circle to make it 2-0 at 6:15 of the second period.
The Flyers, who allowed just 18 goals over their first seven games, limited the Islanders to just two five-on-five shots in the first period. The Islanders still led, though, on Simon Holmstrom’s shorthanded goal as Jean-Gabriel Pageau led the rush at 9:51.
Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves while Samuel Ersson also stopped 23 shots for the Flyers. Dvorak, open at the crease, took Zegras’ feed to bring them within 2-1 at 10:29 of the second period.
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Scott Mayfield dropped the gloves with Garnet Hathaway after his hard hit on Casey Cizikas for the Islanders’ first fight of the season at 16:40 of the first period . . . Kyle MacLean and Rodrigo Abols fought at 2:12 of the third period in a extended scrum that saw Nikita Grebenkin skate across the ice to confront Schaefer. Both earned roughing minors. It was Schaefer’s first NHL penalty . . . Defenseman Adam Boqvist was a healthy scratch and Shabanov (upper body/day to day) missed his second game.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.