NHL 09: How You Can Keep Playing Aggressive Hockey Post-Patch

[RaychelSnr]

One of the major criticisms facing NHL 09's recently released patch is how it has allegedly turned the game into a "pansy" representation of the sport, which favors slow, deliberate strategy over the aggressive type of play that dominated the game prior to the second patch.

This article is out to prove those criticisms wrong by showing that, on the contrary, the game still does reward aggressive tactics -- it simply no longer rewards the type of overaggressive tactics that would be blatant penalties at any level of hockey.

So here are a few tips to help gamers keep the pressure on opponents while avoiding the parade to the penalty box.

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[LetsGoPitt]

I haven't played any incarnation of NHL '09, but it sounds to me that the people who complain about the game post-patch simply don't know much about actual hockey. Everything I've read in this article sounds exactly like how an actual game is played!

[Battlestar]

Very good article. I have to give 09 another shot as it seems this patch has fixed my main issues with the game.

[BruinsHockey08]

Exactly, alot of the people playing NHL 09 are complaining because they do not know, or like to play real hockey, to bad for them, great for people like me though.

[Nomah5]

i have never played a hockey game nor watched more than a handful of games on tV...so I truly dont know the rules and ins and outs of the game. BUT, I think the game is freaking awesome and really enjoy it online. The only thing I cant figure out how to do is...all the time my opponent will come down the ice and fake me one way, lose the puck to the other direction of where i was faked...then get the puck again..its a sick move...any ideas? 360 version. Thanks

[bad_philanthropy]

I really enjoy the positional defense aspect of the game post-patch. It's hilarious how many people playing defense online will chase the puck carrier into the corner leaving a soft spot for me to make a play in front of the net.

Using a simple zone coverage with your d-men to defend the the side and front of the net while having your forwards handle the side boards and point is the most effective way of defending in this game. With the defensemen positioned like this it's easy to quickly step up and take the space away from any attacking players that try to cut across into the slot or drive to the net.

Another thing I see online a lot is defensemen chasing me to the boards as soon as I enter the zone. This leaves a huge soft spot in the slot. Try to take control of a winger to take away an attacking player's space as he enters the zone and let your D defend the interior of your zone.

[jyoung]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nomah5

i have never played a hockey game nor watched more than a handful of games on tV...so I truly dont know the rules and ins and outs of the game. BUT, I think the game is freaking awesome and really enjoy it online. The only thing I cant figure out how to do is...all the time my opponent will come down the ice and fake me one way, lose the puck to the other direction of where i was faked...then get the puck again..its a sick move...any ideas? 360 version. Thanks

Sounds like they are using the "loose puck deke" on you.

The move can be done by holding down the left bumper and pressing the right stick in the direction that you want to deke.

[Gossennator]

I think the patch overall fixed a lot of the problems that were occurring but there are still a lot of gameplay things they need to fix to not make everything so...broken. Still best sports game this year IMO though.