EDMONTON - There were plenty of slow-start theories going around the Kevin Martin camp.

For the first time in the eight years this foursome has been together, they were off to an 0-2 start at a Brier.

The fact it’s a hometown Brier makes it all the worse.

Perplexing rocks. Tricky ice. Misses at inopportune times. Missed offensive opportunities. Running into a hot skip.

Bad enough that Martin gave up an extra-end steal, losing to Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton in their opener.

But Martin himself curling just 78% against red-hot Jean-Michel Menard (90%) of Quebec in an 8-4 loss Sunday morning just added insult to injury.

“Both games, we’ve been kinda under the gun,” said Martin. “We’ve got to get some offence going. We haven’t got that yet but ... hopefully.”

Martin scored just one deuce in his first two starts, missing two golden opportunities against Menard.