Number of shots on goal

[js3512]

I love NHL 13 but there's still one issue that this game never seems to fix and that is how many shots the cpu takes. I play full 20 minute periods and usually end up being out shot by 20-30 per game. I still win half or more of my games cause I'm taking the higher percentage shots but it scews the stats. Is there some way of getting the cpu to work the puck around more to generate scoring opportunities rather than just firing at the first opportunity?

[SpartanBoy81]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I love NHL 13 but there's still one issue that this game never seems to fix and that is how many shots the cpu takes. I play full 20 minute periods and usually end up being out shot by 20-30 per game. I still win half or more of my games cause I'm taking the higher percentage shots but it scews the stats. Is there some way of getting the cpu to work the puck around more to generate scoring opportunities rather than just firing at the first opportunity?

Does some of it have to do with your own defensive play compared to how the computer plays defense? Personally, I play on 20 minute periods and tend to either be equal in shots or I outshoot the computer.

When I first started playing '13, I was being outshot all the time by the CPU, but then I started to play better defense and they didn't take nearly as many shots because I was in shooting lanes and took away a lot of the shots they were taking. Now they're forced to pass the puck around the zone quite a bit more to get a shot off

[@legendm0de]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I posted my sliders this weekend and a player had immediate results, 37 shots (cpu) in a 4-1 loss, I on that same night had 27 (me) -32 (cpu) shots in a 2-1 loss. You can see my section on 20 minute sliders, and everything I've said about them. I definately think it's worth a shot.

[js3512]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I'll give your sliders a look. As for playing defense, I'm not great at it yet but I'm not terrible either. When I play defense I try to stick to controlling one guy and it's very rare that the player/area I'm covering takes a shot but instead they're coming from areas covered by other CPU controlled players so I'm not quite sure what can be done about that from a defensive standpoint.

[js3512]

Re: Number of shots on goal

Tried your sliders, overall an excellent experience with the game, probably the most intense game I've played but it didn't cut down on the shots (it increased my shots but only because I started shooting more after becoming frustrated with trying to pass effectively in the zone). I did however notice something that most likely plays a part in why the CPU is putting up so many shots and that is that when playing defense one of my guys will get a loose puck but because I wasn't aware of it in time and am still trying to play D I end up turning it right back over. Anyone have any advice on how to stop doing that?

[@legendm0de]

Re: Number of shots on goal

which camera angle are you playing on, turnovers in your own area and losing faceoffs are the easiest way to give up tons of shots. the camera angle may have alot to do with you not noticing your defense has won the puck. Do you think you're losing alot of shots to turnovers and faceoffs, or is it more than that

[Mr Leth]

Re: Number of shots on goal

Wait, this seems a bit odd to me.
Yes I admit I've never played NHL 13.
I'm still a NHL 12 junkie but anyway.
Being outshot by the cpu?
I didn't even know it was possible, although I would have loved to try it.
Sure the cpus ability to create offensive plays is...well limited, they often just fire asap.
But I've played about 500-600 games, for the most part on superstar level and I always seem to outshoot the cpu by far.
On a good day they shoot about half as much as I do.
I would say this really screws with the stats though.
My goalies always lets the easy ones in while I have to work my but off to be able to put the puck in the net.
Needless to say my goalies SV% is rarely any good while the cpus are, well monstrous...

When I play defense I try to stick to controlling one guy

This however might have something to do with it.
Seems like an awfully tough way to defend your own net just controlling one guy, it's not like your fellow cpu-controlled defensemen will help you a lot in my experience.

Having said all this, to each his own.
Getting the sliders to a level where you can enjoy YOUR game is everything.
Not sure if there's a way of reducing the number of shots the cpu takes but tampering with all the other sliders could make you find a way where it's less impossible to defend yourself.

Sorry if this wasn't any help, I just couldn't stop myself from commenting on the note that this would be a common problem.

[Ordeal47]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I've had this problem in every NHL game ... it's unavoidable.

Personally, I play 5min periods. I end up with about 30 shots per game typically, and the other team gets 15. Regardless of this seeming domination, I actually only win about 60% of my games. It's ridiculous, because often times on the games I lose I'll do something like...

35 shots/2 goals
vs.
15 shots/4 goals

But then games I win, It's the opposite, so my goaltender always has a GAA that's under 2, but then a SV% barely over 90.

[Mr Leth]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I'm playing 8 or 9min games, just outshot the cpu 50-17, but guess who wanted to win this one...
Sure I did get the equaliser with just 20 secs left of the game but then went on to lose it in a shootout.
Basically sometimes you just can't win no matter how much you push and shove your poor little controller.
After 661 games (thanks EA for actually keeping track) you'd think it still wouldn't bother you as much but...

[birthday_massacre]

Re: Number of shots on goal

Usually I am outshooting the CPU by at least 10 shots but on good games its sometimes even or i outshoot them by 5 or less. But I have rarely ever been outshot by the CPU. I would love for that to happen. the most annoying games are when the CPU get off 10 shots and scores on 4 of them. But most times they are getting 20-30 on 8 min periods and I am only letting up 2-5 depending on the team I am playing.

[Majingir]

Re: Number of shots on goal

The median in shots against based on last year stats, was 30.1 per game. I think the best way to increase all this might be to improve shot accuracy, but at the same time, improve the goalie reactions too so that the shots are more accurate(meaning on target/goal more often) but also the goalie will still be able to save same percentage of shots as before.

[js3512]

Re: Number of shots on goal

which camera angle are you playing on, turnovers in your own area and losing faceoffs are the easiest way to give up tons of shots. the camera angle may have alot to do with you not noticing your defense has won the puck. Do you think you're losing alot of shots to turnovers and faceoffs, or is it more than that

I tried the camera that you suggested with your slider set but that just wasn't for me. I prefer to have a more overhead view so I went back to the standard "ice" cam that the game defaults on. For faceoffs, I get what I would consider a proper amount, obviously I don't want it to be where I'm winning them all but I usually get around 50-60%. Turnovers is the main thing, I'll be skating along with my defender and one of my CPU guys will get ahold of the puck but before I can shift my eyes over to the guy with the puck in time my guy gets checked and gives up the puck. Or it'll be poked away cause I'm skating in the opposite direction of the guy who grabbed the puck leaving him just standing there with the puck reversing his momentum.

[js3512]

Re: Number of shots on goal

Wow, reading some of these posts... someone said they put up 50 shots against the CPU in a game with only 8-9 min. periods? Or 35 shots in 5 min periods? Can you imagine how many that'd be with 20 minute periods? Do you guys even watch hockey? In a typical NHL game the shots for both teams are between 20-30 total. The other day the Blackhawks won a game having only I think 16 shots on goal for the entire game. In the games I'm playing, yes I'm being out shot by the CPU but I'm in that 20-30 average per game but the CPU is getting 35-45 per game and this is with full 20 minute periods. The reason some of you are losing despite outshooting the CPU is the fact that you're not doing enough to set up quality shots. Work the puck around between your wingers and defensemen until the slot opens up, then throw a centering pass in and hope to connect with an open shot down low. Sounds like alot of people are still playing arcade hockey. To each their own but if you wanna be efficient on offense that's what ya gotta do unless you're lucky enough to get a breakaway or numbers in your favor.

[Mr Leth]

Re: Number of shots on goal

Arcade hockey?
Well yes, very much so.
Have EA ever really given us any option?
I want a challenge but I also want to stick as true to the game as possible.
It's a bit of a headache.
So you got to choose your battles.
Do I want my games to end 14-12? no.
So all players have to be good enough to prevent that from ever happening.
Hell, I think it was in NHL 94 I put up a whole season and won the Stanley Cup...without ever having a goalie in net!
Luckily the game have improved a lot since then but it's not perfect yet.
Do I want my games to have the same speed that the real game has? Yes.
But having said that I also want to get in depth with the Be A GM mode.
That means I only simulate the AHL-games, nothing else.
Playing 20min games isn't any option, the seasons would never end.
Hence the speed must stay in the area where it's possible to get real-life scores in just 8-9min games, without compromising with the challenge the CPU can put up.
Max aggressiveness is almost a must if you want the game to be somewhat true.
Passing can't be maxed out though, real players can't control every pass, nor can they put the puck on the tape every time.
The problem with this is that EA has the patented CPU-magnetic stick.
I can't be creative with my passes in the offensive zone, if I pass the puck more than three or four times it's automatically glued to an opponents stick while he races off in a breakaway.
How I would have loved this to change, but then the only option seems to be having the CPU guys just stand there and watch me kick their butts.
Challenge out the window...
Now I can still do the dekes and one-timers in the offensive zone, I just can't pass the puck around waiting for the slot to open up, it rarely ever does in that limited time I've got.
If the CPU could create any better offensive plays I'd been able to change the sliders a bit.
But the way things are, I'm kinda stuck with the outshooting-the-CPU-bigtime-mode.
-
And yeah, I still haven't tried NHL 13 but these EA-games rarely changes that much in just one year.
I'll await to see what NHL 14 can offer instead.
By the way, playing online is even worse if you wan't to stay true to the game.
Now that's truly arcade...

[disinfected]

Re: Number of shots on goal

I've actually noticed this going way back to NHL 99 on the PS1. Even if you're completely dominating there seems to be much more shots on goal from the other team. I'd even go as far as to say more time on offense as well.