Bruins' 32-year-old rookie throws down gloves in first NHL game
Well, that didn't take long.
Bruins winger Bobby Robins, a 32-year-old NHL rookie best known for his skills dropping the gloves, waited just over 30 minutes Wednesday night before throwing down with Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn for his first career fight during Boston's season-opening 2-1 win.
The sequence began midway through the second period when Robins and linemate Craig Cunningham teamed up to land a big (and illegal) hit on Flyers center Zac Rinaldo, who was sent to the box for roughing earlier in the game. Schenn came to his teammate's aid, which led to this:
Robins and Schenn were charged with two penalties apiece for their roles in the scuffle: fighting majors for both, a charging misconduct for Robins and a roughing misconduct for Schenn.
The sin bin is a familiar place for Robins. He racked up 800 penalty minutes in 280 American Hockey League games before making his NHL debut.
After playing in 499 games in the AHL and in Europe, Robins said the reception he received from Boston fans "was a great feeling."
"I know the brand of hockey these Boston fans like, and I just hope to be able to provide that. And to get that kind of reception was a great feeling," said Robins, who chatted with Schenn in the penalty box. "He was asking if it was my first NHL game. So, I said, `Yeah.' He just said, `Good fight' — the normal stuff guys say after a fight."
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