Max Pacioretty's slow start can be attributed to more than a dip in performance - or questionable usage from Michel Therrien.
The Montreal Canadiens captain played with a broken foot through most of November, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported on air Thursday. Engels added that Pacioretty was reluctant to admit that he was skating on a broken foot, as he didn't want to use it as an excuse.
Michel Therrien confirmed after the club's 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils that Pacioretty was suffering from a microfracture in his foot.
It's unknown when the injury was suffered, or when it healed, but Pacioretty was limited to three goals and five assists in 14 games through the month of November.
Montreal went 8-5-1 over that span.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.