Has Poke Check Spam Ever Been Worse?

[06woz]

Just a question to everyone about online play.

Has it ever been this bad? I had a friend keep a running count for a period and my opponent attempted to poke check me more than 70 times in a single(5 minute) period! And since you have no way of defending the puck and skating at the same time, you are completely vulnerable unless you want to turn your back and skate away.

This has to be of paramount importance for next year, puckhandling and puck physics in general could use an overhaul.

[Mt Oread]

Have you ever counted how many times a period players poke check in a real game?

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[dubbs88]

Spam poke checking is ridiculous in NHL 13, and one of the most abused form of defense in the game. For the very readons stated, you have virtually no way to continue skating and protect the puck at the same time. This is why I have never really played online, until this year. I suggest finding a GMC league that supports sim style play, and frowns against the cheese that is mostly found in online play.

[Crapula]

Doesn't spamming poke check slow down your defender? Seems like a simple pass or patient skating could easily win against someone spamming poke check.

[JohnMcClaneTW]

Can't play defense well without the poke check.

If you try and just body check all the time, you'll be put out of position and guys will get around you.

I see no problems with the poke checking in this game. It's a legit form of defense and works great. It isn't "being abused." It's how you play defense.

[ComaFaction]

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnMcClaneTW

Can't play defense well without the poke check. If you try and just body check all the time, you'll be put out of position and guys will get around you. I see no problems with the poke checking in this game. It's a legit form of defense and works great. It isn't "being abused." It's how you play defense.

I have softened on my stance re: poke spamming and don't mind it as much now. However, there are a couple of VERY unrealistic things that can make it infuriating as an offensive player:
- defenseman skating away from the puck and poking behind themselves, back toward the puck with razor-sharp accuracy
- poke checks applying super-human strength and velocity to the puck. You can poke check a slapshot and send it hurtling back down the ice at 60-80mph. That's crazy.
- Also pucks taking ridiculous angles off poke checks, due to the glory of "real time physics"

[kerosene31]

Another perfect example of how offline play and online play need separate tuners.

When they nerfed poke checking, it made offline play terrible. You can't even poke the puck away from the CPU anymore.

I don't play online very much, but someone who does 1 thing over and over should be easy to beat. (dump the puck).

[Mt Oread]

I started counting how many poke checks I saw during the Blues/Flames game last night, and I gave up because it was non-stop. It seemed like every time a guy had the puck, someone was coming to poke it away. Mostly, this led to them moving and passing the puck to avoid turning it over.

But then St. Louis and Calgary are bunch of cheezers.