Oh, these sliders together with the new patch are a GREAT combination.
I downloaded the patch a couple of hours ago, and used these slider settings.
I was playing with Vancouver and played against Colorado.
The game felt amazing, and realistic too. I like playing defensive, but I haven't really enjoyed it as much as I wish until now.
I knew that I had to be really careful about the penalties from what I've read on these forums last week from the PS3 folks, and expected it to be called more, but I couldn't even imagine that it would be called this much. It took less than 5 seconds before I got my first penalty, and my first and only thought was "YESS!!! ;D"
I ended up being one or two men short pretty much the entire first period. Not because I hit a lot where it isn't allowed. But that I poke check at every chance I get, resulting in a couple of tripping penalties. There was this one time that I was right in front of the net and barely touched the guy that I didn't thought should be called. But I was very pleased.
The CPU team pressed pretty hard on the power play and scored the first goal (Forsberg, I haven't updated my rosters)
But with Colorado being on the power play for so much did allow me to train my defense, and it took until the second period before they would score again. Before the first period was over I was able to take the lead by scoring two goals, one of them shorthanded.
By the end of the first period there had been a total of 9 penalties called. This is awesome.. And so much better than 3-4 PER GAME. ;-)
Second period, I got called a lot again, 5 times this period. I managed to clear the puck out of the zone once dumping it all the way down, where one of my players follow, pokes it away from his opponent and hits him, does a little spin and finally a simple deke and it's yet another shorthanded goal and I now have a two goal lead despite having so many penalties against me.
I hadn't had so much time to be on the attack, but up to this point I think that I played excellent on the defense and it felt close to what I watch on TV.
By the end of the period they score a goal and it's 3-2 Vancouver, on to the third.
The third was a period where the game changed. It was pretty much the same for the first 10 minutes, a couple of penalties, good defense from both sides etc. There was this one time where my goalie goes VERY FAR OUT to stop the puck, about half way to the blue line! I really liked that as that's something not very common in the game (haven't seen it before)
I got on a power play for a change, and was able to cycle the puck pretty good and find ways to pass the puck. Didn't score, though I really liked the feel of it. Much improved from before the patch + my old sliders. They didn't really go at me very agressively as I cycled the puck, neither did they stand still and do nothing. They actually played a really good defensive play. Just as I had been doing the entire game.
So when it's about 10 minutes left of the game, I start to loose my concentration a bit, and my defensive skills aren't very good then. They manage to beat me two times in less than a minute and they have are now leading the game. Score is 4-3.
I never really manage to get back in the game and they score yet again, it's 5-3 for Colorado and it's the final score.
I just couldn't be happier about the game at the moment.. I haven't played it since November, but now I have a reason. New patch, new sliders and playoffs are starting here in Sweden.
Here are some clips from the game, nothing special though. The past parts weren't saved. (great defense, goalie going out far etc)
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/4073269
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/4072785
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/4072379
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/4072237
Take a look while you can, they won't be there for long..
Thanks for your awesome sliders Qb, and thanks to EA for reviving their game for me and many others.