Tips for Goalie mode

[Revan30]

SoI don't know if this is just me but I've been suddenly having lots of trouble playing goalie. When I first got the game I was having a much easier time using the same sliders that I've always been using, but for some reason now it's almost as if the AI has figured out what my tendencies are, despite me lowering AI learning down completely.

I never know which side to predict the shot for, and I often seem to over-commit to long cross-zone or centering passes.

To those of you that have been enjoying a relative amount of success in goalie mode, either offline or online, do you have any tips, especially for the new prediction system that I haven't seemed to be having very much success with?

Thanks!

[Inter1]

Hey bud I came to offer you some help, even after you helped me in my slider thread earlier. I was about ready to give up on goalie mode earlier tonight, as playing as a skater was alot funner. Well as of right now I can say that (LB) is your friend and you playing back in your net, and squaring up guys coming down the wings is key. I also know the CPU likes going short side, and glove side high, so I just make sure I can make the save without giving up other parts of the net and it has worked like a charm. Right stick while sliding across the net to stop one timers is crucial also. Its all about position and angles, while taking away the corners of the net. I hope these tips help you out to being a top goalie in your league again!

[Revan30]

Quote: Originally Posted by Inter1

Hey bud I came to offer you some help, even after you helped me in my slider thread earlier. I was about ready to give up on goalie mode earlier tonight, as playing as a skater was alot funner. Well as of right now I can say that (LB) is your friend and you playing back in your net, and squaring up guys coming down the wings is key. I also know the CPU likes going short side, and glove side high, so I just make sure I can make the save without giving up other parts of the net and it has worked like a charm. Right stick while sliding across the net to stop one timers is crucial also. Its all about position and angles, while taking away the corners of the net. I hope these tips help you out to being a top goalie in your league again!

Thanks man, I'll give these a shot. I never used LB when moving before, I just always thought that I moved way too slow to do anything effectively, but now I think I'm moving too FAR on everything, so I guess I will try and use it a bit more. And yeah the cpu loves going glove side, so I almost always just predict the shot to be on my glove side no matter what.

[Inter1]

Let me know how it goes for you, and if you wish, i can send you my updated sliders that im currently using also and see if those help you as well.

[Gramps]

Quote: Originally Posted by Inter1

Let me know how it goes for you, and if you wish, i can send you my updated sliders that im currently using also and see if those help you as well.

i would like those aswell, getting blown out in the CHL is driving me nutz. thx

[huckleberry]

Like inter1 said LB or L1 is your friend. Basically you should almost always be holding it down unless you need to make a quick movement. You'll notice moving straight back while holding it doesn't work too well so sometimes you need to move slightly to the left then to the right while holding back. Try that out and get a good feel moving moving backwards because if you don't it's going to keep biting you in the *** and feel like you're getting stuck. Once you've got that down then keep holding LB/L1 and work the butterfly into it and move side to side and get a good feel for that. This is great for low point shots and the pass across. As long as you're butterfly sliding in the right direction your goalie will try to make the save without using R stick. This is also very good for those screen shots and scrambles in front of the net. Get down in the butterfly and put yourself in front of the puck.

Once you master the movement using LB/L1 and the butterfly you barely need to use the right stick but using it in the right direction will increase your chance of stopping the puck.

Make sure you're always perfectly square with the puck. When you don't hold LB/L1 doing this is nearly impossible because the movements are too quick. At no point should the blue line coming from the puck ever leave your goalie. If it does then you're doing it wrong. The second you're out of position they'll shoot or pass and get a goal.

Always hold LB/L1 unless you find yourself way too far out of position and need to get back quickly. You'll get a feel for when you should let go and when you shouldn't with practice.

Don't come too far out of your net when there is a chance they might pass the puck.

Prediction is really only useful when you're not in good position and need to make a save that is far enough for your goalie to need to actually move. Otherwise just make sure you put your body in front of the shot and your goalie will make the save.

Most importantly if you want to be a good goalie go to practice mode and try like 3 on 0 and play until being square with the shooter, anticipating the pass and moving properly (LB/L1) and utilizing the butterfly is like second nature. Don't practice with like 5 on 5 because the point isn't to simulate a game it's to give you practice for those really hard challenging shots and plays. If you rely on getting better just playing games it's going to take 10x longer to get good. In a game you might get 10-20 shots most being easy saves..this isn't going to teach you much.

[Gramps]

Quote: Originally Posted by huckleberry

Like inter1 said LB or L1 is your friend. Basically you should almost always be holding it down unless you need to make a quick movement. You'll notice moving straight back while holding it doesn't work too well so sometimes you need to move slightly to the left then to the right while holding back. Try that out and get a good feel moving moving backwards because if you don't it's going to keep biting you in the *** and feel like you're getting stuck. Once you've got that down then keep holding LB/L1 and work the butterfly into it and move side to side and get a good feel for that. This is great for low point shots and the pass across. As long as you're butterfly sliding in the right direction your goalie will try to make the save without using R stick. This is also very good for those screen shots and scrambles in front of the net. Get down in the butterfly and put yourself in front of the puck. Once you master the movement using LB/L1 and the butterfly you barely need to use the right stick but using it in the right direction will increase your chance of stopping the puck. Make sure you're always perfectly square with the puck. When you don't hold LB/L1 doing this is nearly impossible because the movements are too quick. At no point should the blue line coming from the puck ever leave your goalie. If it does then you're doing it wrong. The second you're out of position they'll shoot or pass and get a goal. Always hold LB/L1 unless you find yourself way too far out of position and need to get back quickly. You'll get a feel for when you should let go and when you shouldn't with practice. Don't come too far out of your net when there is a chance they might pass the puck. Prediction is really only useful when you're not in good position and need to make a save that is far enough for your goalie to need to actually move. Otherwise just make sure you put your body in front of the shot and your goalie will make the save. Most importantly if you want to be a good goalie go to practice mode and try like 3 on 0 and play until being square with the shooter, anticipating the pass and moving properly (LB/L1) and utilizing the butterfly is like second nature. Don't practice with like 5 on 5 because the point isn't to simulate a game it's to give you practice for those really hard challenging shots and plays. If you rely on getting better just playing games it's going to take 10x longer to get good. In a game you might get 10-20 shots most being easy saves..this isn't going to teach you much.

Thanks for this. /bow

[SGMRock]

I find it very hard to use LT, LB and left stick all at once. I kinda wish butterfly was on the right trigger.