Faceoffs

[lemming3k]

What determines who takes the faceoffs with less than 5 players on ice? Obviously 5 on 5 it's the centre, and I would have thought when shorthanded or 4 on 4 it would be the highest rated player, or based on position (ie right sided faceoff taken by RF) - however I've just had a faceoff on the right taken by LF!
I can't understand why and with his rubbish faceoff ability we of course lost it and got caught out of position!

Can I set this up to pick the strongest player? Or at least the one on the right side!!

[archibalduk]

I can't tell you the definitive answer with regards to the game logic, but I would expect it to be affected by the faceoff settings on the Tactics screen. In real life, a left-sided faceoff wouldn't necessarily be taken by the LW (assuming for some reason the Centre isn't taking it - e.g. he has been thrown out or you're shorthanded). You need to factor in the stick-side of the player as well as the faceoff positioning (i.e. the setting on the Tactics screen). For instance, some faceoff formations/positions involve the wingers sitting together in the slot with a defenceman against the boards/wing (see the image below which shows roughly what I mean).

LW and RW players don't always necessarily play on their respective sides - e.g. take a look at the Wings Cross breakout setting in the Tactics screen.

[lemming3k]

Thank you!
I can't think of any reasonable reason for it in this scenario though. It was neutral zone, defensive. Of the two forwards out there they both shoot the same side, my centre was RF and LW at LF (4vs4) and it picked my LF with terrible faceoffs to take it on the right so they lost it and crossed over and got caught.

I can see a unit options setting for faceoffs with a dropdown - but nothing particularly detailed - is that my only option? Though rather than picking an individual I'd just want the highest rated player, especially if I change my centres I'll have to reset that option on all the lines. Better than nothing though! Thanks

[batdad]

IN EHM 4x4 and 4x5...the player that is selected for faceoffs if you do not check off in your line tactics will always be the guy on the left side of the 4x4. The first one in the tactics. So if you placed your weaker player on draws in that left slot in tactics, and did not check off the RW to take the draws...that is what happens.

I always have a C or W who is good on draws in the LW slot (if you notice it is actually NOT given the tag LW in your lines screen)...and is really the C slot.

[lemming3k]

IN EHM 4x4 and 4x5...the player that is selected for faceoffs if you do not check off in your line tactics will always be the guy on the left side of the 4x4. The first one in the tactics. So if you placed your weaker player on draws in that left slot in tactics, and did not check off the RW to take the draws...that is what happens.

I always have a C or W who is good on draws in the LW slot (if you notice it is actually NOT given the tag LW in your lines screen)...and is really the C slot.

That answers that question then! I had no idea it was a centres slot as they're given the tags LF and RF (left and right forward I assume) so I placed a left on the left and centre on the right.

[batdad]

NO there are not given the tags of that in your lineup screen, only MAYBE in tactics (Have not looked) They have no tag in the line up screen.

[lemming3k]

Ah I see what you mean, I've only noticed tactics through changing the lineup.