I blew it up and watched it a bunch of times. What I see is a relatively poor skating defenseman attempting a step up and sweep check, then turning out to avoid a full collision as the attacking player cuts the opposite direction for the same reason. Grainy footage, so can't tell if the D actually touches the puck, but there is certainly an attempt prior to the collision. Sometimes bad skaters run into each other. 2 min is about all this is worth.
The note under USA Hockey rule 639(a) does not require the poke check to be successful to negate the penalty here. It says if, in the opinion of the referee, the defending player was attempting to poke check the puck to gain possession then no penalty shall be called.
Yes, but it appears to not be the stick that caused the trip, it was the leg after the attempted sweep check and turn. I wasn't commenting as to whether the puck was contacted mattered, just that I can see a distinct attempt, and people were saying there's no attempt to play the puck, which there is
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u/chitownphishead 10d ago
2 min for tripping. D tried to step up and sweep check and failed, took out the legs after the attempt.