Empty net goals... ugh
This isn't a new issue with the NHL series, but it weighs on me every year when playing against the CPU. Empty net goals are too easy to score.
This can pretty much ruin a hard fought 2-1 game when the final score ends up 4-1 or 5-2 because of all the goals in the final minute of the game. Not to mention does a number on stats.
In the past I have had to impose my own house rules about scoring empty netters. Like they go to Dmen only, or I only allow myself to score 1 of them in a game.
But the real issue is that the game plays no differently when there are 6 skaters on the ice and the AI plays as if there is a goalie in the net regardless.
Compounding the issue is the guaranteed easy entry into the zone every single time. Not to mention the easy breakout up the boards when taking over possession with the puck in your own end. So, essentially if you grab a dump in or gather a loose puck in your own end and there is an empty cage at the far end of the ice, you know you are scoring that goal 9 times out of 10.
The AI Defense will never step up on the puck carrier and defend like you are taught to do in that situation in real life. And to be honest, I am not sure what the answer is to fix it. I can't see them programming specific logic into the final few minutes of a game to change the entire way the game is played. They can't/won't even fix the neutral zone pressure or attempt to hold the blue line as is, so I doubt they are going to attack something that only is seen in a limited number of instances.
Playing against a human online if you are trailing it is almost never a good idea to pull your goalie. Everyone knows that all you have to do is step one inch over that blue line and let go of the aim and skate stick as you flick up for your wrist shot and no matter who it is it is going in that net.
Really annoying to me and sad it is yet another year in which we must deal with it.
What are some of your guys' workarounds or house rules for empty net goals in this game? I can't be the only one that feels bad racking up the easy goals. Especially when they are not scored in a similar fashion to how they would be in real life.
This can pretty much ruin a hard fought 2-1 game when the final score ends up 4-1 or 5-2 because of all the goals in the final minute of the game. Not to mention does a number on stats.
In the past I have had to impose my own house rules about scoring empty netters. Like they go to Dmen only, or I only allow myself to score 1 of them in a game.
But the real issue is that the game plays no differently when there are 6 skaters on the ice and the AI plays as if there is a goalie in the net regardless.
Compounding the issue is the guaranteed easy entry into the zone every single time. Not to mention the easy breakout up the boards when taking over possession with the puck in your own end. So, essentially if you grab a dump in or gather a loose puck in your own end and there is an empty cage at the far end of the ice, you know you are scoring that goal 9 times out of 10.
The AI Defense will never step up on the puck carrier and defend like you are taught to do in that situation in real life. And to be honest, I am not sure what the answer is to fix it. I can't see them programming specific logic into the final few minutes of a game to change the entire way the game is played. They can't/won't even fix the neutral zone pressure or attempt to hold the blue line as is, so I doubt they are going to attack something that only is seen in a limited number of instances.
Playing against a human online if you are trailing it is almost never a good idea to pull your goalie. Everyone knows that all you have to do is step one inch over that blue line and let go of the aim and skate stick as you flick up for your wrist shot and no matter who it is it is going in that net.
Really annoying to me and sad it is yet another year in which we must deal with it.
What are some of your guys' workarounds or house rules for empty net goals in this game? I can't be the only one that feels bad racking up the easy goals. Especially when they are not scored in a similar fashion to how they would be in real life.
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