Where is Sean McDonough? Why Bob Wischusen is calling Rangers vs. Panthers on ESPN NHL broadcast

Fans expecting to hear the main voice of NHL broadcasts on ESPN may be surprised to hear a different sound coming through the television on Friday night. 

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Rangers and the Panthers is set for tonight at Madison Square Garden. Florida is aiming to build off its impressive showing in Game 1, taking the first contest of the series 3-0 over New York. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 24 saves in the shutout victory. 

In the conference finals, the rights to the broadcasts are split up between ESPN and TNT, the two networks that have deals with the NHL. TNT is taking care of the Western Conference, while the Eastern Conference belongs to ESPN. As a result, once the conference finals roll around, the rotation of broadcast teams stops, and each side rolls with their No. 1 commentary team.

For ESPN, that means Sean McDonough is on play-by-play duties for the entire Florida-New York series. At least that was supposed to be the case. ESPN announced hours ahead of puck drop that McDonough won't be on the call for Game 2 between the Rangers and the Panthers. 

So where is McDonough? The Sporting News explains the reason for the absence of the ESPN play-by-play announcer. 

Where is Sean McDonough? 

McDonough was expected to be on the call Friday night for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final series between the Rangers and the Panthers. However, the longtime broadcast will not be in the booth due to an illness. 

Due to illness, Sean McDonough will not call this evening’s #TimeToHunt-#NYR Game 2 matchup and Bob Wischusen (@espnbob) will fill in as play-by-play commentator https://t.co/kNAyWJdoUV

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 24, 2024

The ESPN broadcaster not only is scheduled to be on the call for the rest of the Eastern Conference Final, but he also is in line to be on the mic for the Stanley Cup Final. As a part of the new TV rights negotiated between ESPN, Turner Sports and the NHL in 2021, this year is ESPN's turn to broadcast the final series.

McDonough did play-by-play for the 2022 Stanley Cup Final between the Avalanche and the Lightning. 

Who is calling Rangers vs. Panthers Game 2?

With McDonough unavailable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, Bob Wischusen is getting the call-up to ESPN's top broadcast team. He will be on play-by-play with Ray Ferraro as the analyst and Emily Kaplan as the rinkside reporter. 

Who is Bob Wischusen?

Wischusen is currently the No. 2 play-by-play man in the ESPN rotation for the NHL. He broadcasted a number of the Western Conference matchups before the conference finals, typically with former NHL winger and current analyst Ryan Callahan as his partner on the mic. He has been on hockey calls with the network since 2021. 

While he may have just started his hockey ventures recently with ESPN, Wischusen has been at the company since 2006. He also is one of their voices for college football and basketball.

In addition to working for ESPN, Wischusen is the radio voice for the New York Jets on WEPN-FM.

Rangers vs. Panthers schedule, scores, results

Here is the complete schedule for the series between the Rangers and Panthers that will determine the NHL's Eastern Conference champion:

* if necessary