Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

[Madwolf]

I've been playing with Vancouver since I got home using Schieder in the goal sense he was pretty nasty in the playoffs, despite the Canuck's going home early.

So far I've been playing on Pro to get the hang of the game, and I can score pretty easily, but I can't stop the CPU from scoring for anything. It seems they get some stuff my guy should stop easily at times, and my defensive guys seem to go brain dead.

Anyone else experiencing any issues or have any tips?

[NashGabbyHenrik]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

my main defensive problems early on were stuff I did in NHL 12 I cannot do in NHL 13 anymore due to the real time skating physics. I was getting caught flat footed a lot.

Best advice I can give is use forwards to come back, poke check, stick lift, and get in passing lanes. If you control a defense man dont rush the puck carrier. skate back, try to make them dump it.

[Madwolf]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Just played another game, against the Oilers, and won 6-3. It was 5-1 going into the 3rd period, and I felt pretty good. I gave up 1 really garbage goal I was made about, but the other one was legit. Your advice helped me.

I did have an awesome hit in the 1st that shattered the glass, which I was surprised to see. It was really neat, but it doesn't show the glass break in the replay.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Defensively it helps if you don't push the stick all the way while back-skating. The CPU will most times easily burn you with a quick stop or cut inside/outside. If you lightly move the stick around you'll be able to shadow them much more easily.

[NashGabbyHenrik]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Just played another game, against the Oilers, and won 6-3. It was 5-1 going into the 3rd period, and I felt pretty good. I gave up 1 really garbage goal I was made about, but the other one was legit. Your advice helped me.

I did have an awesome hit in the 1st that shattered the glass, which I was surprised to see. It was really neat, but it doesn't show the glass break in the replay.

I am glad I could help. I love how the NHL games by EA you have to play like you would in real hockey.

[bruinsftw2k]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

I am glad I could help. I love how the NHL games by EA you have to play like you would in real hockey.

Too bad the goalies dont. I have the goalie reaction time jacked all the way up for both teams and there is still at least 2-3 goals in each period by me and/or the CPU on 10 min periods. I played a full game and it was 8-6, then played a 2nd game and it was 4-3 after the first period and I just shut it off.

[Madwolf]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Yea, I think their is something wrong with the goalies atm. I'd rather it be harder for everyone to score. It was harder to score last year, and the improvements they made should have made it even more difficult.

[NashGabbyHenrik]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

try my slider set. i put shot accuracy on 0. you still score, but a majority of the time it is only goals that should go in and beat the goalie. not the little "what is he doing" goals. they still happen, but not ridiculous amount of the time.

[Madwolf]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

I actually got a shut out in my first game once I got home from work today. They didn't get a lot of shots on goal, probably around 15, thanks to keeping it in their zone nearly the entire game, but my defense was also much better. I concentrated on controlling the Wings and Center as opposed to my defensemen and got pretty good results.

[STRANGExBREW]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Defense is much harder if you were accustomed to playing very physically. I used to put alot of pressure on attacking players with my D. Lots of hits and etc. on rushing players. Not so much anymore. After being caught flat footed a lot, you end up having to learn how to navigate D men around like the posters suggested above. If not players will blow by you or simply dump it past you and then the other attacking player will blow by your other D or create a foot race.
Its actually more enjoyable than just blasting everyone coming into your zone. Creates more plays in your zone, and its harder to break out of your zone if you just try and hit players...big difference in years past.
Same goes for offense, this year dump and chase is a viable option that can create plays. If you can hold the zone for a bit and get the puck into the middle of the offensive zone there are tons of options to score. Shooting/onetimers from the boards no longer seem to be an option..imo

[bruinsftw2k]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

try my slider set. i put shot accuracy on 0. you still score, but a majority of the time it is only goals that should go in and beat the goalie. not the little "what is he doing" goals. they still happen, but not ridiculous amount of the time.

Ill have to try this because jacking up goalie reaction time does nothing. There are still at least 5-8 goals per team each game on 10 min periods and most of the time I dont even get to finish the 3rd period because everything seems to just go in and i just reset and try to adjust the sliders

[skrody]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

is it just me or does the CPU always shoot blocker side (and mostly score). i have not seen a goal that wasn't put in on blocker side. its REALLY ****ING ANNOYING.

skate to the slot, blocker shelf. every ****ing time.

[asr451]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

My main problem so far is that my goalie can't stop anything short handed. After about 15 games, my PK is about 30%. 5 on 5 I am ok.

[Qb]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

I lost 6-1 last night to the Senators on All-Star. So to answer your question... nope, I'm doing just fine.

[duffman]

Re: Anyone else struggling on defense? Goalie is giving up everything too

Alright so i'll swallow my pride here and admit that I have a defensive problem this year.

The past years i've grown so accustomed to using vision control to face-up to the puck and use well timed pokes/lifts to get the puck off the other teams sticks.

In around 7 games of HUT online against other players, i'm getting destroyed. And it really boils down to I have no idea how to keep people from getting to the high percentage spots on the ice.

Do you guys not switch off to controlling D-men on rushes as much this year? I always did in previous years cause my d-men CPU controlled couldn't be trusted for anything.

Secondly, how do you get your d-man to face up to the puck carrier? My guys wind up twisted around and lost while they get blown by.

Third (which may really be subset of my first question), my defenseman seem to be getting caught ridiculously flat footed when i switch to them. Granted i'm using low rated dmen right now, but so are my human opponents and i'm not getting nearly the types of chances they are.

Thanks for any advice, i'm loving this game and so far just need to learn how to play D all over again it seems