The Montreal Canadiens have been a sad sack of a team for the past two months, losing to numerous perennial bottom feeders, seemingly en route to claiming the distinct honour of being the worst team in the league, quantified and qualified. Yet every time they play a game at home after a road trip, it is hoped that somehow the home ice advantage, and the energy that the fans bring, will be the spark that reinvigorates them and rights this badly listing ship.
The Habs desperately needed to come out strong and try to set the pace for the game, but the polar opposite happened, as sloppy passing, disorganized offensive rushes, and a generally poor performance all around signalled that the game would be like all the rest.