By Bob Snow

Thirty-two year old Bobby Robins’ hockey career reads like a geography lesson.

With 499 games under his pro belt – in the AHL, ECHL and Europe – Robins’ road to the Bruins opening game led directly to the epicenter of his hopeful landing – the TD Garden for his 500^th pro game, and first in the NHL after that long and winding career road.

Before his pro career began, Robins was also a physical force at the University of Lowell over four years from 2002-2006.

Claude Julien’s lineup had Robbins at right wing on the fourth line with Daniel Paille at center and Craig Cunningham on the left side.

Robins did not disappoint.

“He plays hard and that’s what you saw from him tonight,” Claude Julien said after his team’s 2-1 win. “He’s a great example of guys who have been toiling around in minors for a long time and to know there’s still some hope at the end of the tunnel. Tonight, he came out excited to play. It’s a great feeling – your first NHL game.”

Robin’s first period log?

A total of 3 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time with 5 shifts, 3 hits and an even plus/minus.

His first-ever NHL shift was highlighted with a welcome-to-the-NHL mid ice collision check with Philly bad-boy Zac Rinaldo.

The last shift — a goalmouth tussle with Mark Streit with 3 minutes to go on a Bruins scoring bid.

Things got more memorable for Robins and the Garden faithful in the second frame.

Among his shifts that period, the most enduring – and endearing — ended at 10:52 with a prelim of things to come for Robins in a showdown at the Flyers bench and a one-rounder with defenseman Luke Schenn.

Robbins at 6 foot 1 and 200 pounds took the decision over the veteran Schenn and his 6-foot-2 and 230-pound frame.

“If I play hard enough the fights seem to happen,” the effervescent Wisconsin native said to the media throng after, “so I wondered if it would be the first game. It turned out to be a good one.”

Since the start of the 2011-2012 season, the Bruins are 69-29-5 in games in which they were assessed a fighting major.

Make that 70 wins.

“Bobby gave us some energy with that fight,” veteran Chris Kelly said postgame.

“It was awesome after nine years to have this happen is a dream come true,” Robins said about his first NHL game. “It was a very special feeling I’ll never forget. I don’t want to play one game; string together more. I’ve got the itch; I want to stay in this league.”

The day before Robins’ first game, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli foreshadowed a hopeful Robins’ contribution.

“We talk about being a team that’s hard to play against and want to be a bit more of a physical team,” Chiarelli summed. “I think he fits that mold really well. I don’t want people thinking the only reason he’s here is that he’s not afraid to drop the gloves. I think there’s a lot more to him and the part I haven’t talked about either is the fact that’s he’s a great individual that’s very well liked already in our dressing room.

“He’s fit in well.”

In his first NHL game, indeed, Robins did.

And in more ways than one.