Demo - Gaining the Blueline

[crankybaker]

Hi everyone,

So after watching video after video it seemed this year it would be a lot harder to gain the offence blueline with dumping the punk into the offencive zone, but after playing the demo I still find it easy to skate on into the offencive zone. Has anyone else still found it easy?

I do like however that a lot of the "easy" opitions while in the offencive third have been taken away IE: one timers.

[sweetjones]

Quote: Originally Posted by crankybaker

Hi everyone, So after watching video after video it seemed this year it would be a lot harder to gain the offence blueline with dumping the punk into the offencive zone, but after playing the demo I still find it easy to skate on into the offencive zone. Has anyone else still found it easy? I do like however that a lot of the "easy" opitions while in the offencive third have been taken away IE: one timers.

IMO! I think this is situational. Unfortunately, the demo starts in the 3rd period with a different score everytime. I have noticed varying defensive pressures in all 3 zones by the opposing team on different scores. Whether they have a lead or I do.

[Gagnon39]

I said this in one of the videos that Rammer put up. He was trying to show how you have to dump the puck in the zone because of the new systems and I said that it looked like you could have just skated right by the defender who was standing still just inside his own blue line. I gave EA the benefit of the doubt and kind of accepted what Rammer was saying.

But after playing the video it seems as though my speculation was correct. I just skate right into the zone 99% of the time. When I do dump the puck in it is simply for fun and to add to the feel of the game, not because I have to.

[Mikey88]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

I said this in one of the videos that Rammer put up. He was trying to show how you have to dump the puck in the zone because of the new systems and I said that it looked like you could have just skated right by the defender who was standing still just inside his own blue line. I gave EA the benefit of the doubt and kind of accepted what Rammer was saying. But after playing the video it seems as though my speculation was correct. I just skate right into the zone 99% of the time. When I do dump the puck in it is simply for fun and to add to the feel of the game, not because I have to.

Have you tried adjusting the different strategies available to us now? I have yet to try but i suspect that you can make it more difficult depend on neutral zone pressure and formation

[Gagnon39]

You can't adjust the other team's strategy. When I skate into the neutral zone its very rare that I find myself in a position in which I need to dump the puck to gain the zone. I just skate by the defenders. I mostly play on the Superstar level and never any lower than All-Star.

[nbman]

IMO, I find the ice sheet too large in the NHL series giving you too much room to skate around the other team. I have been playing 2k10 lately and noticed that you have less room to skate by players and seems more proportionate.

[crankybaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

I said this in one of the videos that Rammer put up. He was trying to show how you have to dump the puck in the zone because of the new systems and I said that it looked like you could have just skated right by the defender who was standing still just inside his own blue line. I gave EA the benefit of the doubt and kind of accepted what Rammer was saying. But after playing the video it seems as though my speculation was correct. I just skate right into the zone 99% of the time. When I do dump the puck in it is simply for fun and to add to the feel of the game, not because I have to.

Exactly my point. 99% of the time you can just stroll in no problems at all. I was so excited for a game where you HAD to dump and chase. Like I under stand the 1st line for the penguins can gain the line with great passing plays and what not but the 3rd and 4th lines dump and chase a lot and I think this needs to be in the game

[captaincan]

I would think this is a hard thing to balance. Considering most people play 5-10 minute periods, it makes some sense to shy away from forcing the dump and chase game. If it was ultra realistic, and we had to dump, chip, and cycle our way to scoring chances, each team would probably have like 10 shots by the end of the game. Not to mention it wouldn't be very exciting, and the average hockey fan wouldn't enjoy it much.

I've with you guys on forcing more dump and chase, but I see some issues with it and maybe why it makes sense to keep it as it. Considering a chippier game requires a lot of board play, I'd rather not be forced to use the current pinning mechanics constantly.