Khusnutdinov was due to pop on the ice right after the opening faceoff, replacing Mark Kastelic, who won the key draw to give the Bruins possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeto\u201d popped in the replacement blade PDQ and Khusnutdinov was off to the races, jumping into the offensive end and helping to end the game after just 15 seconds.<\/p>\n
Robinson had barely picked his head up from the repairs when the Garden erupted and defenseman Jonathan Aspirot was giving him a celebratory face wash.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t know if everybody saw, but \u2018Keto\u2019 made a great play to get Khusy\u2019s steel on right before he hopped out there to make the play,\u201d said Morgan Geekie. \u201cSo, total team effort today by everybody and just happy to get the 2 points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geekie was impressed with the NASCAR pit crew speed with which Robinson worked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why he didn\u2019t have [a blade] in, but he wanted steel and then literally right as he stepped out, \u2018Keto\u2019 popped it in and he went on after \u2018Kasty\u2019 took the faceoff and then left,\u201d said Geekie. \u201cSo, \u2018Keto\u2019 popped it in, \u2018Khusy\u2019 stepped on the ice, goal. It was cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robinson\u2019s snap decision was the capper on a long day of travel and trials for the Bruins where the entire organization chipped in to help earn a victory.<\/p>\n
Plane problems and a subsequent canceled flight forced the Bruins to stay in Manhattan after Monday night\u2019s loss to the Rangers<\/a>. They had an early wake-up call and a four-plus-hour bus ride to Hanscom Field. <\/p>\n \u201cThe boys were pretty tired, I must say. It\u2019s an early bus,\u201d said Pastrnak. \u201cObviously, it\u2019s tough to fall asleep after a game, and it was an early bus, so everybody tried to get as much rest and peace and quiet as we could. So, not much energy. So, it was a pretty quiet bus ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite New England getting buried by the weekend snowstorm, the Bruins were spared having to dig out once back at Hanscom.<\/p>\n \u201cJohnny [McLean], our skills coach, was nice enough to go and shovel everybody\u2019s car off so we could get home. So, we owe him a couple beers,\u201d said Geekie. \u201cIt was good. And then our chefs came out to the airport as well to give us some pregame. So, like I said, it takes a village and everybody stepped up today no matter how it was, and we\u2019re happy we could get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n Patience paid off<\/p>\n Hampus Lindholm was bummed when he didn\u2019t get the call to be on Team Sweden\u2019s initial roster for next month\u2019s Olympic Games in Italy. He kept his focus, however, and now will be part of the Three Crowns group<\/a> after replacing injured Jonas Brodin.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of out of your control, right? You just have to go out and prove them wrong. Now a spot opened up. And like I said, I felt that I\u2019d deserved a spot there and now one opened up. So, it\u2019s just the way it works in hockey sometimes,\u201d said Lindholm, who opened the scoring in the win over the Predators. \u201cSo, you have to have a short memory. My first and foremost focus obviously is to play my best hockey for the Bruins and try to make the playoffs and have a fun season with the guys here. And then the rest will take care of itself … So, I\u2019m super excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Coming up next<\/p>\n The Bruins host the Flyers Thursday, then won\u2019t be back on Garden ice until Feb. 26, when Charlie Coyle and the Blue Jackets come to town … The Bruins will face the Lightning in a Stadium Series game Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, followed by a trip down Alligator Alley to Sunrise to face the Panthers Wednesday before scattering for the Olympic break … Pastrnak has 20 assists in January, tied for fifth most in a month in franchise history. Bobby Orr holds the mark with 23 apples in March 1971. Phil Esposito had 22 in January 1969, and Orr had 21 in December 1970 and January 1973.<\/p>\n Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n