Coming off a four-day layoff, the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice utterly flat and out of sync. Passes went astray, pucks were bobbled, assignments were missed, and players made decisions, at both ends of the ice, that led to turnover after turnover.
Yes, rust from the extended break may have played a factor. Pre-game roster moves — adding Mike Hoffman, breaking up the top line, and subtracting Mike Matheson — likely also contributed. But none of these extenuating factors overrides the fact that this specific instance of first-period malaise is part of a growing pattern for the Canadiens.