Politics bowed to Canada’s most popular sport on Tuesday, when the French-language leaders’ debate was abruptly rescheduled to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game. Two federal party leaders had called for the Wednesday evening debate to be moved,

A French-language debate between five leaders of Canadian political parties had been scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern. But after two party leaders complained that the debate would compete with a 7 p.m. Montreal Canadiens game, the debate’s start time was moved up by two hours.

At first, one of Canada’s most legendary hockey teams struggled to keep up with its American opponent on Tuesday, leaving its goalie to block more shots than during any other game this season. But the crowd refused to let the Montreal Canadiens’ winning streak and playoff hopes shatter on home soil — especially not against the Detroit Red Wings,