Canadiens Defeat Flames 4-1 in First Home Game of 2026
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MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens began 2026 with a decisive 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Bell Center on Wednesday night. Alexandre Texier led the charge with a goal and two assists, while Lane Hutson, Oliver Kapanen, and Cole Caufield also found the back of the net for Montreal.
Game Highlights
Texier opened the scoring at 3:10 of the second period, roofing a shot over Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf for his fourth goal of the season. The Canadiens quickly extended their lead as Phillip Danault set up Hutson for a powerful slap shot, and Kapanen capitalized on a rebound just over a minute later, making it 3-0.
Calgary’s Joel Farabee managed to cut the deficit with a goal at 2:21 of the second, but Montreal responded in the third period. Caufield scored his 21st goal of the season, assisted by Texier, at 3:56. A late goal by Nazem Kadri was disallowed due to an offside call.
Key Performances
Jacob Fowler was solid in net for Montreal, stopping 28 of 29 shots. Texier’s multi-point performance was pivotal, and he was recently named to France’s Olympic team, becoming the third French player to reach 100 career NHL points, joining Antoine Roussel and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Flames forward William Stromgren made his NHL debut in the contest.
Takeaways
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens demonstrated strong offensive contributions from multiple lines in their first home game of the new year. Lane Hutson continues to be a key offensive contributor, with three goals in his last four games.
Calgary Flames
The Flames struggled to find the back of the net despite a relatively even shot count. calgary’s scoring chances were limited, and the performance of goaltender Dustin Wolf was a key factor in keeping the game competitive. The Flames are still searching for their first win of 2026.
looking Ahead
The Canadiens will host the Florida Panthers on Thursday.The Flames will continue their road trip with a visit to the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan.7, 2026.
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