NHL 09: A Non-Glitcher's Guide to Offense

[nacnud]

This is helpful. Loving this site!

[jyoung]

One more tip I've been using a lot lately to great effect:

• Learn how to push the puck ahead of you by tapping the right bumper while skating forward.

This move gives you a short speed burst that can often mean the difference between a clean break into the offensive zone and a turnover.

My player isn't exactly the fastest guy on the ice (6'2" playmaker), but with this move, I am still able to get out on breakaways and squeak by defenders as they're trying to sandwich me against the boards.

[JMBOO]

Also there is one other player type to consider for taking faceoffs, the "Grinder". He starts with a base 85 in the faceoff category.

[jyoung]

Funny that you mention the grinder because I have been trying it out myself quite a bit lately.

I love the extra physicality the grinder brings to to the table, and if you put all his offensive points into passing, he can do pretty much everything a playmaker can on the offensive end.

The only area where the grinder really suffers compared to the playmaker is athleticism, but if your team has speedy wingers to do all the puck chasing for you, being a slower center isn't as big a deal.

I'd definitely recommend the grinder/center combo to anyone who's loaded with offense on the wings and needs their center to help out more with passing and defense than shooting and puck chasing.

Here's the build I've been using:

Center (grinder)

• passing +20 (90)
• defensive awareness +10 (90)
• face offs +10 (95)
• acceleration +11 (86)
• speed +9 (81)