Tips for a relative neophyte?

[ennepetal]

Hello all you NHL players and thank you for reading and maybe answering with some help.

Growing up in Michigan, always been a bit of a hockey fan. I always have enjoyed playing the video game versions a bit, especially when I was in college and Blades of Steel seemed like the best thing ever (showing my age here, of course).

For some reason, though, the next-gen console experience for me never seemed to really include hockey. I stuck mostly with football, probably because I enjoy the short season and being able to do all the extra franchise things without too much work.

That all changed about a month ago when I finally decided to start, in earnest, a Red Wings franchise with my dusty copy of NHL 09.

I snagged some Pro sliders that seemed were well-regarded and away I went. I scored four on the Maple Laffs and was instantly hooked.

However, nearing the mid-season mark, I have been really a disaster. Despite the talented roster, I pretty much have anchored the basement in the West all year. I don't have a problem with losing a lot as I learn the game or if it's due to just being overmatched, but I'd have to think I'd be getting better by now.

The problem is, things seem to have gotten only much, much worse. I'm in the midst of a serious scoring drought. I think I've had only five goals over the last seven games. I wasn't burning out the lightbulbs in the goal light or anything, but I was scoring and keeping games close. Now I can't do anything and am giving up buckets of goals. If I wasn't the only person who plays on my console, I'd swear someone went in and jacked up my sliders.

So, I'm asking the community at large to take pity on an older gamer who could use a little help getting his Wings maybe not back to contender status, but at least threatening to get out of the basement at some point.

Again, all helpful responses are met with my appreciation.

[jkra0512]

Check out the "CPU Learning" slider. From my experience this allows the CPU to learn your tendencies and will do everything to stop them, soon you won't be able to really do anything. Try lowering it and see where that takes you

[PORTUGESEPIKACHU]

make alot of passes, if your continuously making the goalie, move he might give you something to shoot at.

[ennepetal]

while I found both suggestions to be useful for one day, I caved in and got the new game. thanks y'all.