TORONTO — Someone must have misplaced the script to the start of the Blues’ 2018-19 season, because this isn’t it.



When I wrote the “State of the Franchise” on the team in August, we highlighted how the Blues had significantly upgraded at forward, adding Ryan O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak, David Perron and Pat Maroon at a combined cost of $85.75 million. When The Athletic released its NHL power rankings the day before the season opener against Winnipeg, the staff ranked the club 11th in the league. When “Central Intelligence” polled all seven Central Division writers about who would make the Western Conference playoffs, six of the seven had the Blues qualifying and the other liked their chances.



But following the Blues’ soul-zapping 3-2 loss in Montreal on Wednesday night, they now have a record of 1-3-2, their worst start through six games since 1977-78, when they dropped all six. The offense is 20th in the NHL...