Marshall Warren had already skated in three NHL games for his hometown New York Islanders this season. But when the Laurel Hollow native arrived at UBS Arena on Tuesday night, this one felt different.

This was home.

Warren suited up for his first Islanders home game, and the milestone night ended on the best possible note — a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

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The memorable evening began even before puck drop, when the rookie defenseman was tapped to read the starting lineup in the Islanders’ locker room. (Courtesy cell phone screenshots

“That was really cool,” Warren said. “It was special. All the boys loved it. It’s one of those things that you remember.”

For a Long Island kid who grew up rooting for the Islanders and dreaming of wearing the blue and orange, stepping onto the ice at UBS Arena carried extra meaning.

“It was cool,” Warren said. “When you’re a kid, you dream about that. For me, that was awesome — and we got the win too, so that made it even better.”

The Islanders rallied once again, with Adam Pelech breaking a 1-1 tie by scoring the game-winning goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period. The late heroics capped a night Warren shared with about 30 family members and friends in the sellout crowd.

From the pregame locker-room moment to his steady play on the ice, the night left a strong impression — not just on Warren, but on his teammates as well.

“How cool is this for him?” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “I think it’s awesome. He’s come in and played really well. He’s so solid back there. It’s not flashy, but it’s calm and collected, and I think he’s playing with a lot of poise for his first few games in the National Hockey League. He’s a really great player and a great addition to our room right now.”

Warren logged more than 14 minutes of ice time, finishing with three shots, two hits and an even plus-minus, showing responsibility on both ends of the ice.

Through four NHL games, he’s clearly caught the coaching staff’s attention.

“He played really well,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. “He’s fast. He skates well. He sees the ice well. I really love the way that he played today. I feel like he’s playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of poise out there.”

The cheers grew louder when Warren was introduced as part of the Islanders’ starting lineup, and his trademark smile was on display throughout the day. Still, once the puck dropped, the 24-year-old remained locked in — though he admitted sneaking a few glances into the crowd.

“I saw a bunch of my buddies,” Warren said. “I’m happy we got the win because it definitely makes it better. I thought I had a good game… played well, so it was really good. Just having all of those people there was special, but you just have some fun and play some hockey.”

Warren was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild but never signed with the team. After four seasons at Boston College, he finished his collegiate career at the University of Michigan in 2024, then signed with the Islanders. He appeared in two games with Bridgeport at the end of last season before playing 53 games there in his first full pro campaign, recording four goals and 13 assists.

The Islanders liked what they saw early.

“We did,” Lee said. “He’s been playing really solid hockey since he’s come into this organization. I noticed that at camp even last year. He got called up a little bit last year but didn’t get to get in, but his game is there. He’s showing that night in and night out.”

The Islanders are now off until Saturday’s matchup against the Rangers at UBS Arena — a potential first taste of the Battle of New York for Warren. While his NHL debut on Oct. 25, when he recorded two assists in Philadelphia, will always stand out, Tuesday night carved out its own place in his memory.

First Islanders home game. First Islanders home win.

“It was cool,” Warren said. “It was awesome. You work hard for those moments. Getting a home game is super special.”

Not just a home game — a winning one that felt like the start of something bigger for Marshall Warren and the Islanders.

Marshal Warren in his New York Islanders debut. Credit: New York Islanders