ESPN avoids complete disaster after broadcast snafu late in Hurricanes-Rangers NHL game

The last minute of a tied game in the Stanley Cup playoffs is one of the most exciting things in sports. ESPN managed to add some extra stress to the proceedings for viewers with a clearly inadvertent broadcast mistake.

With the score tied 3-3 with 49 seconds to go in Game 2 between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, ESPN's broadcast suddenly cut to introductions for the Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche game — which was initially slated to kick off on ESPN but was beginning on other channels (ESPN2/ESPNU) with the Rangers-Hurricanes game running long.

Thankfully, ESPN rectified the mistake quickly, returning to the Rangers-Hurricanes action before regulation had concluded at Madison Square Garden. Only about 17 seconds of game time was missed, and luckily for ESPN no one scored during that time.

No one scored in the entire first overtime, either. Game 2 didn't end until Vincent Trocheck scored a power-play goal at 7:24 of the second overtime to give the Rangers a 2-0 series lead.

Call the extra hockey repayment for fans after that near-disaster at the end of regulation.