Alexandre Texier has a goal and 2 assists in Canadiens' 4-1 win over the Flames

MONTREAL (AP) — Alexandre Texier had a goal and two assists, Jacob Fowler made 28 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Lane Hutson, Oliver Kapanen and Cole Caufield also scored to help Montreal improve to 24-13-6.

Joel Farabee scored for Calgary, and Dustin Wolf stopped 31 shots. The Flames dropped to 18-21-4.

Texier opened the scoring 3:10 into the second period when he took the puck at the goal line and roofed it over Wolf’s shoulder.

After Phillip Danault's chance out of the penalty box, Texier got the puck back to him, and Danault found Hutson alone in the slot. Hutson fired a slap shot past Wolf. Just 1:07 later, Kapanen finished off a rebound to make it 3-0.

Farabee beat Fowler with a shot from the left circle with 2:21 left in the second.

Caufield took a Texier pass and fired a rolling puck past Wolf for his 21st goal 3:56 into the third period.

Flames forward William Stromgren made his NHL debut.

Flames: At Boston on Thursday night

Canadiens: Host Florida on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Calgary Flames' William Stromgren skates prior to making his NHL hockey debut against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble (47) and Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman (20) battle along the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen (91) scores against Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) as Flames' Yan Kuznetsov (37) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) defends against Calgary Flames' Joel Farabee (86) as he moves in on Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) during second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) celebrates with teammate Phillip Danault (24) after scoring against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)