The NHL playoffs are in full swing, and with every hit, goal, and post-whistle scrum, the energy has been electric. But while fans were hyped for the Battle of Ontario, something else had them just as fired up—and it wasn’t on the ice. As the puck dropped on Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Senators, many fans noticed a glaring issue with where and how they were watching it. Instead of prime-time ESPN, the first all-Canadian playoff matchup in years got relegated to ESPN2—while regular season baseball took center stage. Cue the outrage.

The move raised eyebrows across the hockey world. After all, this wasn’t just another playoff game. It was the return of one of the NHL’s most storied rivalries—Toronto vs. Ottawa—with packed arenas, superstar firepower, and seven years of pent-up playoff anticipation for the Senators. Fans expected wall-to-wall coverage. Instead, they got a second-tier slot.

Even more puzzling was the network’s own recent campaign to push for exclusive national rights to first-round NHL broadcasts, potentially sidelining local market options altogether. The irony wasn’t lost on fans. “ESPN wants full playoff control and still buries a rivalry game on ESPN2?” one viewer posted. It was the spark that lit a wildfire of outrage.

A fan’s viral post summed it up perfectly: “ESPN floats the idea they deserve to have coverage over local markets for the first NHL round, meanwhile Toronto vs. Ottawa is on ESPN2 while regular season baseball is on ESPN.”

This wasn’t just about one game—it became a symbol of what fans see as ESPN’s persistent mishandling of hockey content. The network may hold the NHL broadcast rights, but many fans feel it still hasn’t earned the trust—or respect—of the community.

“ESPN sucks,” fans angry after ESPN’s NHL Coverage news

Many fans didn’t waste time pulling punches. While ESPN has tried to present itself as a major NHL partner, viewers clearly aren’t buying it. One fan summed up the general consensus bluntly: “And ESPN sucks at hockey. At all levels from their live games to their analysis.” And with that, the floodgates opened.

The Leafs-Sens snub seemed to highlight a longer pattern. Another fan added, “They have been and continue to be terrible for hockey,” pointing to years of lackluster investment and weak primetime support. For many, the network’s relationship with the NHL has felt more like a business deal than a true partnership.

As ESPN pitched the idea of owning exclusive rights over local broadcasts, fans pushed back hard. “1. ESPN hates the NHL. 2. ESPN coverage is unwatchable,” one post read, doubling down on the belief that the network’s heart has never really been in it.

Even more intense reactions followed. “ESPN deserves to be reorganized back into a sports network. It’s become a worthless propaganda mouthpiece,” another fan ranted, showing how the frustration now goes beyond just hockey. The misstep with Game 1 was just the latest straw.

Some even got specific with their critiques. One fan addressed ESPN anchor John Buccigross directly: “Sorry Bucci, you’re a great hockey guy who loves the game, but stick to studio work.” Even the most respected voices couldn’t dodge the backlash.

ESPN wants more control over NHL playoff coverage, but judging by fan reaction, it hasn’t earned that right. From misplacing marquee matchups to underwhelming analysis, the network’s handling of hockey continues to be a sore spot for the NHL’s most loyal fans. And in the middle of a high-stakes postseason, this latest slight might be remembered long after the final buzzer.