Canadiens notebook: Texier confident, Guhle healthy and finding his timing

Alexandre Texier has two goals and five points through 14 games. Sportsnet reported Monday that his five-on-five results have improved.

Texier scored Saturday in Montreal's 5-4 victory against Pittsburgh. After the game he said he is in a great mental and physical state. "I'm obviously confident," Texier said.

According to Sportsnet, at five-on-five he is near 60 per cent in shot attempts and close to 65 per cent in expected goals. Neither number has been higher in any of his previous NHL seasons, and more than 70 per cent of his shifts have begun outside the offensive zone.

Texier credits his feet. "It's just moving my feet," he said. "I'm feeling good about our line, the way we play, our role on the team." He is using that speed to drive on the rush more than he used to, instead of pulling up to look for a pass. He also said he is working on consistency, trying to play the same way every night.

Guhle finding his timing

Defenceman Kaiden Guhle was asked Saturday morning by TVA's Renaud Lavoie about timing on his hits, his shot and his first pass. Lavoie suggested Guhle had found his best timing since making his season debut four games late. Guhle agreed with that, and said his game feels better to him now than at any other point in his career.

He missed the start of the season while recovering from an off-season adductor procedure. Guhle said the caution was worth it, because he has felt fully healthy in every game he has played since.

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said the main reason Guhle's play is standing out is that he is healthier than he has been in a long time.