NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

[RaychelSnr]

Of all the positions in NHL 09, it seems like the goalie position is the one that is neglected the most.

Most of the players I have talked to agree that it is not so much because the position is not fun, but rather because the position is extremely difficult to learn -- much less master.

Part of the blame for that difficulty falls on EA Canada’s shoulder pads. The developers at EA Canada are the ones who have made the save controls completely counter-intuitive, given no on-screen indication of where the goalie should position himself, and put goalies at a severe disadvantage when it comes to dealing with input delay and the need to make split-second reactions to stop shots.

Read More - NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will train

[adayinthelife]

I don't feel like there is enough incentive for people to play net.

At least in real life goalies don't have to pay for shinny and in my beer league at least a shutout equals a free pitcher for the goalie .

[savoie2006]

I wouldn't want to play goalie in the EASHL unless I had teammates that could play effective/proper Defense. Alot, if not most, are only concerned about Offense it seems.

[hedache]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

I'm a goalie in a beer league and it's so much fun. On the other hand, I don't find it entertaining anywhere close due to the lack of action/success percentage. Most of the time I find myself waiting for the puck to come to our side (in the few games i played net). It's more fun to play skater get a lot more action for sure. What's the point of playing a video game when you're not doing anything at least half the time. When you are a skater, you are always trying to be in position on offense and on defense or in the neutral zone. Playing goalie in the game is kinda pointless.

[scott209]

i play gollie on online ranked games my record is 46-25 my GAA. is 2.36 so i think i do fine i do most of these things it is a hard position to learn but once you do it's very fun and you stop alot of glitch goals

[jyoung]

The frantic up and down nature of online play keeps the goalies involved in NHL '09 a lot more than they might be in a real life game.

Rarely are there any dull moments, unless your team just happens to be completely dominating a group of scrubs and keeping the puck stuck in their zone all game long.

Like the article says, not only is it more fun to play with/against a good human goalie, but they are also incredibly useful to have on your team because you don't have to worry about them giving up glitch goals.

[Jeffrey99]

My problem with playing net is that you don't have to do anything to make a save. And as was pointed above, it actually hurts you more to try and make a save. That would be like me being able to skate into the crease and there be a auto-shot button, what's the point?

Goalies have to be quick on the reflexes to see/know where the puck is going. As it is now with NHL 09, all you have to do is be in "position" and allow the game to decide if it wants to make the save for you. If we are allowing the game to make the save, why play with human goalie at all?

[Gossennator]

I wish I knew how to play goalie well but its way too hard and takes way too long to learn. BTW if anybody wants to join my team send a msg to Gossennator over XBL. We could use more people.

[damir662]

i would like to play goalie or player but it seems that people playing are just not that serious. (the ones I played with/against) Maybe I havent got with the right crowd but I would love to play with a serious team or a serious league

[IBYCFOTA]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

My problem with playing net is that you don't have to do anything to make a save. And as was pointed above, it actually hurts you more to try and make a save. That would be like me being able to skate into the crease and there be a auto-shot button, what's the point?

Goalies have to be quick on the reflexes to see/know where the puck is going. As it is now with NHL 09, all you have to do is be in "position" and allow the game to decide if it wants to make the save for you. If we are allowing the game to make the save, why play with human goalie at all?

It wouldn't be practical to force people to make saves with the right stick. Any lag would kill you and you would pretty much have to try to make a save before they even shoot. It's already hard enough to play goalie as it is, I don't think they need to make it harder.

The big problem with goalie currently is that one timers and cross crease passes are overly difficult to stop. It needs to be tweaked for 2010 to make getting over easier to compensate for lag and remove the post magnet nonsense. However goalies should be a bit easier to score on when they are in good position. NHL goalies all have great positioning almost all the time, but they still get scored on because of defensive breakdowns. Plus, there is no defense for the perfect shot.

[nacnud]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

Playing goal gets lonely if you're on a good team. lol

[jtricoli]

Interesting read. I would however, somewhat disagree about the insignificance of the right analog stick. I've found several good situations where using the right analog stick to go butterfly is the best method of stopping certain shots. The main reason for this is the goalie tendency to cover the puck when pulling down to be in butterfly. I've found this most helpful for shots from the point, which are often deflected low on the way to the net. Being in the butterfly help close the 5 hole in that situation and you have a higher percentage chance of covering it up.

The second situation I use butterfly is when the offensive forward is moving from a low corner to the front of the net. Once the skater come close to the near post, I go into the butterfly and move towards him. I've found this is very effective against the shot to the far side.

Thanks for the article, I appreciate the series as a whole and especially the one on the defense.

Jtric

[kerosene31]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

I love playing goalie floor hockey, but in NHL 09 it is just terrible.

There are just so many things that you just can't simulate with a controller.

The game's producer is a former goalie, so it isn't like they don't have experience.

The biggest problem I had with it vs real life is screens. Screens are so effective against humans because you can't move your head. In the real world, you can duck down, move your head to get a clear view of the puck.

Throw in all the goofy rebounding and post sticking... ugh.

[steveeee]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

I wish the goalie controls were more like NHL 94 to be honest.. playng manual goalie back in the day was so fun and easy to master.

i actually would love to play goalie more but the controls are to difficult to master.. well it's not only that but they are not intuitive as they should be... for example, I think I should make the save but I didn't because the controls are lacking to say the least

[steveeee]

Re: NHL 09: Goalies Wanted, Will Train

haha I took the advice of article and started be a pro goalie offline on superstar. I took offsides off and icing off so I would even get more shots on me for practice and I actually have gotten really good at it offline. So then I go online thinking I'm going to be good but to come to find out it's different. lol I am not as good without my blue position arrow

any ways, I agree with this and it works very well

The second situation I use butterfly is when the offensive forward is moving from a low corner to the front of the net. Once the skater come close to the near post, I go into the butterfly and move towards him. I've found this is very effective against the shot to the far side.

ok.. back to offline mode without the blue arrow now. geeeeeez.. I thought I was on to something.