[Max Cow Disease]

I'm loving this year's iteration and am heavily invested in HUT for the first time.

I strongly disagree with those who criticize the goal-scoring in this year's game. As a few have mentioned, games feel extremely tight for the most part and the importance of cycling the puck/rubbing guys out along the boards etc. seems noticeably more prominent. This is due partially to the strength of the poke-check this year, which necessitates the development of at least a decent passing game. I've lost a couple of games in which I'd out-shot the opponent by 30-12 or whatever, but I'm revelling in that, because it finally feels as though getting "pucks to the net" is a vital strategy in the game. In years past, it was about aiming for those few truly money goals that always went in, but it seems like you have to work for it this year, and the result is significantly more realistic.

When I look at footage of real hockey and compare, it's hands-down the most realistic game yet in terms of replicating the physics and flow of an actual game, if you ask me.