Lazy in the Neutral Zone

Dynamo38 · Post by **Dynamo38** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:49 pm

I can't make the guide work so I am posting my question. My guys seem to not want to go into the offensive zone, instead they pass in the neutral zone. I have tried setting my players to dump the puck more often but they still pass in the neutral zone. Any thoughts? Also, any tips on how to get my players out of the defensive zone? I had Andrew Peters hold the puck and skate around for 3 line changes in the defensive zone, that is a scary thought.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:27 pm

Change the style of breakout you use. The reason they get stuck at the blue line is the other team has figured uot what to do. Change both breakout and neutral zone play to get from your end into the other team's end.

On the hold puck thing---this is an issue we are all having with the game I think. I see it quite often watching/coaching games, and I know others do too. But if it is Peters, maybe everyone is scared to go near him??

I usually use Board Play-Positional
and Free flowing-Crisscross.
Sometimes use positional break out as well.

I have not tried grouped or wings cross for neutral zone yet...Anyone had success with these two?

Of course, kill off all of these ideas if you are not talking EHM 2007

Dynamo38 · Post by **Dynamo38** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:38 pm

Ok, thanks. I will give that a try. Don Cherry is great, great player and coach for the Amerks.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:17 pm

The Don Cherry thing is a bit of a joke someone here is having on me. At one point he told me he would remove it...however this has not happened. But hey, he was a decent coach, when he remembered he was only allowed 5 skaters on the ice.

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:52 pm

Heh, yeah actually that was me. I just forgot to remove it... you were ranting about Don I think.

I changed it for you

noctambulist · Post by **noctambulist** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:10 am

Holding the puck in the defensive zone is an issue with the engine I think. It's great when you have a lead and kill off 45 seconds, but frustrating when you are down and watching that clock tick down. It also annoys me when the defensemen will pass it to the goalie and cause a face off.

For passing/skating around the neutral zone, I confirm trying to change the break out and neutral zone tactics. You can also try to change up the personal tactics on passing to be more creative or who carries the puck through. Someone with good stick handling is more likely to break through the defensive line.

Sucker Punch · Post by **Sucker Punch** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:13 am

noctambulist wrote:Holding the puck in the defensive zone is an issue with the engine I think. It's great when you have a lead and kill off 45 seconds, but frustrating when you are down and watching that clock tick down.

It was unreal today. Down 2-1, and for literally the final 18 minutes of the third period, the opposition held it behind his own goal line. EIGHTEEN MINUTES!

Post by **batdad** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:18 am

Minstrel wrote:Heh, yeah actually that was me. I just forgot to remove it... you were ranting about Don I think. I changed it for you

Mouchos gracias Senor Minty.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:52 am

Sucker Punch wrote:It was unreal today. Down 2-1, and for literally the final 18 minutes of the third period, the opposition held it behind his own goal line. EIGHTEEN MINUTES!

Wow... if they try and do that to my teams the most they get away with is about 40 seconds before one of my guys throws them a beatdown.

As for the passing back to the goalie

yeah I really dislike that too, this isn't soccer/"football" that would be a delay of game in the NHL. I've mentioned it recently is patch testing but I'm not sure if they'll actually address it our not yet... it could be the kind of thing that would unbalance the engine requiring tons of tweaking and testing time again so it may remain for now.