For most of the Rangers in the lineup, Thursday marked just another preseason game.

But for defenseman Marc del Gaizo, it meant so much more.

The Basking Ridge, NJ native grew up going to games as a Rangers season ticket holder, but Thursday marked the first time that he hit the MSG ice donning the signature red, white, and blue uniform.

“It was really special,” del Gaizo said.

With several friends and family in attendance, the 26-year-old was sure to make his presence felt.

His biggest moment came in the second period, when he laid a huge open-ice hit that caused the Devils Marc McLaughlin to race over and drop the gloves.

New York ended up with their first power play of the game.

That is what del Gaizo is hoping to bring, but he made his mark elsewhere too with a pair of shots on goal, one blocked shot, and another hit during his 20-plus minutes of ice time.

“It’s hard not to notice him,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a fierce competitor, he’s physical, he plays with swagger, but he also plays within himself -- he understands the game that he has to play out there.

“He’s not a high-risk player, he just goes out makes the simple plays and defends hard, but it’s hard not to notice him out there, even in our intra-squads he stood out -- he just plays the game with a ton of courage.”

That’s certainly some high praise from one of the game’s premier coaches.

Being on a two-way contract, del Gaizo appears destined to start the year down with Hartford, but it would mean everything if he receives a shot with the club at some point during the year.

“I grew up a Rangers fan,” he emphasized. “I’d go to sleep at night and I’d have a picture on the wall of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier on the bench in Rangers sweaters, it’s still there -- so it would be an amazing opportunity.”

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