Season of the stick: How politics are overlapping with the NHL playoffs [Video]

What’s with hockey and this election?

It’s clear much of the nation is in the grip of playoff fever, just as the federal election reaches its final days. 

A critical French-language leaders’ debate was moved up by two hours for Montreal hockey fans. Quebec’s Premier Francois Légault chose to attend the Habs game, rather than watch a debate seized with issues central to his own province.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” said Williamsburg, Ont., hockey lover Barry Strader upon hearing the debate had been time-shifted.

“It’s a debate … but there’s hockey, too. It’s our lifeblood.”

• Time changed for French-language leaders’ debate due to Montreal Canadiens game
• Talkin’ hockey and the election 

That’s not all: Liberal Liberal leader Mark Carney took a skate with his team, the Edmonton Oilers, and upped the Canadiana ante with a campaign ad featuring Mike Myers proving …