Alexandre Texier scored once in his first career three-point game and Cole Caufield tallied one goal and one assist to lead the host Montreal Canadiens to a decisive 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
Lane Hutson and Oliver Kapanen also found the net for the Canadiens, who are on a 7-1-2 run.
Goaltender Jacob Fowler made 28 saves as Montreal opened a four-game homestand on a positive note.
Joel Farabee replied for the Flames, who kicked off a five-game road trip with a third consecutive loss. Goalie Dustin Wolf stopped 31 shots.
The Canadiens controlled the first period and were finally rewarded when Texier opened the scoring three minutes into the second period by lifting a sharp-angled offering from near the goal line for his first goal in 10 games.
Hutson doubled the lead four minutes later when he buried a one-timer from the slot during a delayed penalty for his second goal in as many outings and third in four games.
Kapanen made it a three-goal edge 67 seconds later by pouncing on a rebound chance for his second goal in as many games and 14th of the season, which ties him with Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke for the most among rookies.
Farabee finally gave the Flames a much-needed spark when he converted a screened shot from the top of the left circle with 2:21 remaining in the second period. Rookie defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz posted an assist, his first NHL point.
Caufield emphatically quashed any comeback hope with a top-corner, short-side effort from the right faceoff dot at 3:56 of the third period to round out the scoring.
–Field Level Media
