Texier ready for the Canadiens’ playoff opener
texier is set for his first playoff game with the Canadiens on Sunday in Tampa, where Montreal opens a much-anticipated series against the Lightning. The French forward said the moment is exactly why he plays, after skating Saturday in Brossard and reflecting on the chance in front of him. Martin St. Louis appears ready to send him out on the second line, giving Texier a central role as the postseason begins.
Texier steps into the spotlight
The 26-year-old arrived in November after a tense split with the Blues of St. Louis and quickly signed a two-year contract extension worth $2. 5 million per season. His path since then has not been linear: he produced a three-point game on January 7, then a three-goal game 24 hours later, but he also spent some nights watching from the press box.
That uneven stretch is part of why Sunday matters so much. For texier, the first playoff game with his new team is not just another lineup change; it is the next step in a season that has already tested him. He said he has learned to handle those difficult stretches by staying ready, saying that when he has been scratched before, it was never the end of the world and that coming back left him hungrier.
Texier, Newhook and Demidov
St. Louis is expected to start texier alongside Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov, a trio that could play an important role against a Lightning team described inside the club as formidable. Demidov said he likes the combination, calling it a very good trio with strong skill. Newhook and texier give that line two players with speed and punch, while Demidov brings a different layer to the group.
Texier said he feels in the right place mentally and in his game, both inside and outside the room. He described each day with the Canadiens as a reminder of the opportunity he has been given, saying that every morning he arrives with the count at zero and the chance to prove himself again.
What this first test means
Sunday’s game in Tampa is the first meeting of the series between Montreal and Tampa Bay, and it gives texier a direct chance to add a new chapter to an already eventful season. The stakes are immediate: a strong second line could help Montreal match a tough opponent, while a quiet night would leave the questions around his role to build again.
For now, texier sounds ready for the opening faceoff, and the Canadiens appear ready to see what he can deliver when the playoffs start for real. If his recent comments are any guide, he has embraced the moment and the pressure that comes with texier in a postseason lineup.
