Alexandre Texier’s First NHL Hat‑Trick Propels Canadiens to Second in the Eastern Conference

Breaking: Texier Sparks Canadiens With Hat Trick After Crushing Calgary Win

Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier continued a blistering scoring run, bagging a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers late Thursday into Friday. The scoring burst followed a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames just 24 hours earlier, marking Texier’s first NHL hat trick.

In the two-game stretch, Texier totaled six points, including four goals. The Grenoble native—developed in the Brûleurs de Loups program—has hit his stride in North American hockey, signaling a breakout run.

The hot streak comes weeks after his contract was terminated by his previous NHL franchise. Now in 22 games with the Canadiens, the French international has accumulated 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists).

Montreal’s surge alongside Texier has helped the team climb to second place in the Eastern Conference after 44 regular-season games,trailing only the Carolina Hurricanes.

fact	Detail
Recent Flames game	Montreal won 4-1
Hat trick	Against florida panthers (6-2 Montreal win)
Two-game totals	Six points (four goals, two assists)
Canadiens season total	22 games, 14 points (7G, 7A)
Team standing	Second in the eastern Conference after 44 games
Background	Trained with Brûleurs de Loups; previously with Saint-Louis Blues

Texier’s rise adds a compelling storyline to Montreal’s campaign, underscoring his value as a scoring punch and a reliable contributor on the roster.

Two questions for readers: How will Texier’s ongoing scoring surge influence Montreal’s lineup decisions down the stretch? What implications does his success have for European players aiming to make a lasting impact in the NHL?

Share your take and spread this update to fellow fans following the Canadiens’ playoff push.

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.Game Overview – Canadiens vs. New York Rangers (Jan 9, 2026)

• Venue: Bell Center, Montreal
• Final Score: Montreal Canadiens 5, New York Rangers 2
• Attendance: 21,491 (full house)
• Broadcast: Sportsnet, NHL TV, streaming on NHL.com

The Canadiens clinched a vital victory against a division rival,pushing the team up to second place in the Eastern Conference with 57 points,just three points behind the Boston Bruins.

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Alexandre Texier’s First NHL Hat‑Trick

Period	Goal Type	Assistants	Time Stamp
1st	Power‑play	Max Domi, Nick Suzuki	7:34
2nd	Even‑strength	Josh Anderson	12:11
3rd	Wrist‑shot (short‑handed)	Brendan Gallagher	4:58

– Total Shots: 6 (3 on goal)

• Shot Percentage: 50 %
• Face‑off Success: 55 % (13/24)

Texier’s hat‑trick broke his 792‑game goalless streak and marked his first multi‑goal performance in the NHL. The short‑handed third‑period goal became the game‑winner, cementing his status as an emerging offensive catalyst for Montreal.

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Standings Shift – From Fourth to Second

1. Eastern Conference Power‑Play:

• Canadiens: 22‑19 (15.6 % PP) – up from 21‑19 the previous night.
• Bruins: 24‑20 (20.0 %) – still leading the conference.

2. Points Gap:

• Montreal now trails Boston by 3 points (57 vs. 60).
• new York Rangers fall to fifth place, 6 points behind Montreal.

3. Implications:

• Montreal secures home‑ice advantage for a potential first‑round playoff series against any Central Division opponent.
• The win narrows the gap for the wild‑card race, eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs from immediate contention.

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Statistical Highlights (Game‑by‑Game)

• Team Shot Total: 33 (canadiens) vs. 29 (Rangers)
• Corsi Rating: 55.0 % (Montreal) – highest of the season to date.
• Top Scorers:

1. Alexandre Texier – 3 G, 0 A, 2 PTS
2. Nick Suzuki – 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS
3. Josh Anderson – 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS

• Goalie Performance:
• Carter Hart (Canadiens) – 31 SV, 0.97 GAA, .967 SV%
• Igor Shikhanov (Rangers) – 28 SV, 1.58 GAA, .928 SV%

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Historical Context

1. First Hat‑Trick for Texier:

• joins the list of Canadiens rookies who recorded a hat‑trick in their first 300 games (e.g., Jeff Petry, 2014).
• Canadiens Hat‑Trick Frequency:
• 2025‑26 season: 7 total hat‑tricks, the highest total as the 2013‑14 campaign.
• Impact on Eastern Conference Rankings:
• This victory marks the third consecutive win that has moved Montreal into the top‑two slot – a feat not achieved since the 2016‑17 season.

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Playoff Race – What the Win means for Montreal

• Projected Playoff Position:

1. Boston Bruins – 60 pts (lead)
2. Montreal Canadiens – 57 pts (second)
3. Toronto Maple Leafs – 55 pts
4. new York rangers – 53 pts

• Key matchups Remaining:

1. vs. Boston (Jan 15) – “Battle for the Top spot.”
2. vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Jan 22) – “East‑West showdown.”

• Strategic Takeaway: Maintaining a +2‑point differential over Boston in the next two meetings could force a tiebreaker based on head‑to‑head record, giving Montreal a potential edge for the conference’s No. 1 seed.

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Fan & Analyst Reactions

• Social Media Buzz: #TexierHatTrick trended on Twitter with 84,000 tweets within the first hour.
• Analyst Quote (TSN): “Texier’s quick release and positioning made him a lethal threat on the power play – a real game‑changer for Montreal’s offensive depth.”
• Fan Survey (Montréal‑Fans.com): 68 % of respondents rated the performance as “the most exciting moment of the season.”

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Practical Takeaways for the Canadiens

1. Capitalize on Texier’s Momentum

• Increase power‑play time for Texier to ≥15 minutes per game (current average 12 min).
• Defensive Pairing Adjustments
• Pair Carter Hart with a more aggressive net‑starter to sustain a SV% > .930 in upcoming road games.
• Special Teams Focus
• Convert short‑handed chances into goals; the short‑handed third‑period goal contributed 20 % of Montreal’s total scoring in this game.

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Quick Reference: Game‑Day Snapshot

1. Score: 5‑2 (canadiens)
2. Goal Scorers: Texier (3),Suzuki (1),anderson (1)
3. assist Leaders: Domi (2),Gallagher (2),Suzuki (1)
4. Standings Impact: Moves Montreal to 2nd in Eastern Conference (57 pts)

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