TORONTO — There are dangers in broadcasting, but perhaps none more so than a live microphone.

In a clip that has already been making the rounds, TSN colour analyst Ray Ferraro is caught speaking frankly, during Tuesday night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ferraro pokes fun at Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf for yelling during the game, using what Ferraro describes as his “high-pitched” voice. Later, someone on the air is heard to call Pittsburgh defenceman Paul Martin “terrible.”

“To clarify, Ray’s inappropriate comment did not go to air on TSN,” the network wrote in an email response on Wednesday. “The comment was made during a commercial break as part of a private discussion and inadvertently picked up during an online broadcast.”

The Penguins rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win the game 5-4, in a shootout. Phaneuf did not speak with reporters on Wednesday, as the Leafs prepared for a rematch with the Penguins at Air Canada Centre.

“Regardless, Ray takes this matter very seriously and has apologized to Dion Phaneuf and Brian Burke,” according to the TSN statement. “Both have graciously accepted the apology.”

National Post