Notably, Maple Leafs fans were upset over missed calls in a decisive Game 7 against Boston, a game that Sutherland officiated, alleging favoritism.
Canucks supporters have also voiced concerns, citing Sutherland's apparent negative bias towards their team in games, including a recent matchup against the Oilers. Fans pointed to Sutherland's officiating record with the Canucks, which shows a dismal 2-7-2 in their last nine games he refereed, as evidence of unfair treatment.
While no official investigation has been launched, the repeated complaints and patterns observed by fans suggest that further scrutiny of officiating standards may be warranted to ensure fairness in the league's competition.