Calgary Puckers EASHL [360] - Page 15 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Manatee · 10-04-2008, 01:30 PM

Cripes, this is going to be a long post. Sorry about that, guys. These are just some thoughts off the top of my head of how we might be able to improve. We were looking a lot better last night, so at least we're making progress.

Lags, you do a fine job playing net, but I think it's a good policy to just have the computer take care of it. For me, I think I could put together a solid effort, but I never know when the game is going to start getting laggy for me. Go figure, it was right before each goal I let in last night - weird coincedence, eh? Heh...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I try not to call for a pass pretty much ever...I mean, unless I'm rushing up the same wing as the d-man who has the puck, and no defender is nearby or in the passing lane. Kind of a no-brainer there. But yeah, I've noticed the goalie keeps trying to play the puck, and it's pretty frustrating. Might as well just freeze the puck and win it back on the draw. We seem to have a pretty good FO% as a team. I think I was winning about 65% of my faceoffs, but I feel like I'm pretty lousy with my positioning as a center. Either I play responsibly defensively and I'm way behind the offensive rush, or I leave the slot wide open and our computer d-men get owned by their forwards. Plus, I'm an absolutely brutal passer, seemingly no matter how high my passing rating is (and I'm a playmaker...yeesh), so I should probably stick to the wings.

Puck movement is important, and getting it back to the point seems like a good idea seeing how aggressive the human forwards are. Whenever I try that, though, the computer d-men always seem to just give the puck right back to me, and I quickly turn it over. With the camera swiveling only when it wants to, I have a little trouble identifying where my linemates are on the ice, and when I finally see a passing lane open up, I'm about a second behind, and then it takes a split-second more in online play for the game to acknowledge that I pressed the pass button. What usually happens is I get bumped off the puck right as I start to pass. I might try using the "overhead" camera from the regular 5-on-5 games instead of the BAP camera. That might give me a better idea as to where everyone is on the ice, rather than having to guess.

Defensively, I think we should take a suggestion from the PS3 thread/strategy discussion...just a straight-up zone defense. Left wing takes the left side of the ice, gets to the point when a defenseman has it and collapses down low when it goes to a forward. Center takes the middle and the slot, right wing takes the right side. Last night, I found myself trying to cover a passing lane between the d-man (who had the puck) and forward on the right side. Then both of the other forwards came after the puck carrier over there. That could wind up being a disaster, since I would have to race over to the other side. Not like I'm chastising you guys - I'm prone to chasing the puck, too. Maybe having a set idea of what we're supposed to be doing will help.

Hmmm...what else...oh yeah, the rush. We played a game last night where I would try to rush it up the wing, only to get plastered into the boards by a really aggressive defender. I didn't really have an option to pass, aside from blindly passing it back to a defenseman and getting back onside. The flip dump never seems to work. I mentioned it, but we didn't get to try it - maybe we should try a slapshot/hard dump-in around the boards, sending two forecheckers in along the opposite side. For example, if I dump it on the right wing, if I do it right, it should come around the boards on the left side. If we time it right and can get our center and left wing over there in a hurry on the forecheck, maybe we can force a turnover and meanwhile, I would be heading to the slot looking for a pass.

The Manatee · 10-04-2008, 01:49 PM

Last thing, I swear! I'm thinking of making the switch to power forward. I keep getting cross-checked to the ice by d-men when I'm trying to screen the goalie or get a deflection. Maybe I would be able to stay upright more often, and could bang home some rebounds if we start getting some shots from the point.

I haven't decided if I actually will make the switch though. Playing online, it already feels like I'm skating in freshly-poured cement. I think the PFW starts off with a really bad speed rating, so instead of feeling like I'm two strides behind the play, it will be more like five.

FlamesKickAss · 10-04-2008, 04:36 PM

my player is a power forward and I still get knocked around pretty good.

nickerjones · 10-04-2008, 04:53 PM

but if u want to help your speed just use the longest skate blade it gives the fastest speed and acceleration but not much agility...

anyone playing now?

FlamesKickAss · 10-04-2008, 05:22 PM

yea ill go on and play a few

FlamesKickAss · 10-04-2008, 07:54 PM

mark and I go on a 2 game winning streak after nick leaves. He scores a beauty ot winner in game 1, seen below. and I got a hattrick in a 3-1 win

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/1053449

CRXguy · 10-04-2008, 08:10 PM

Jayems or anyone else who has GM power, can you add me to the league?

Gamertag is EJ20WRX.

Thanks.

nickerjones · 10-04-2008, 08:12 PM

jayems left us a while ago for greener pastures.... but ill add ya next time im online if someone doesnt do it before me

The Manatee · 10-04-2008, 08:15 PM

I'm not going to be able to play tonight, boys...sorry about that. I also am doing some drinking with some of my buddies, but I've been cutting back on the booze lately and my tolerance is shot. I would be completely ineffective out there. We're going to keep drinking and (hopefully) watch the Cubs get swept. It's Gonna Happen, indeed.

CRXguy · 10-04-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickerjones

jayems left us a while ago for greener pastures.... but ill add ya next time im online if someone doesnt do it before me

Thanks.

I'll be on in a couple hours after my daughter goes to bed.

Fire · 10-04-2008, 08:42 PM

I will be online around 10:00-10:30 tonight.

FlamesPuck12 · 10-04-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

mark and I go on a 2 game winning streak after nick leaves. He scores a beauty ot winner in game 1, seen below. and I got a hattrick in a 3-1 win

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/1053449

Haha Nick guess who scored that goal?
2 game winning streak yay!

nickerjones · 10-04-2008, 09:04 PM

nice goal .... you sure that wasnt marks player but a computer controlling it???? but really nice ... good we need to get over .500

Fire · 10-04-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRXguy

Jayems or anyone else who has GM power, can you add me to the league?

Gamertag is EJ20WRX.

Thanks.

I sent you a club invite.

FlamesPuck12 · 10-04-2008, 10:54 PM

Anyone online right now?

nickerjones · 10-04-2008, 11:39 PM

yes

CRXguy · 10-04-2008, 11:45 PM

be on in a second here....

Fire · 10-05-2008, 01:14 AM

CRXguy and I were playing pretty well together tonight. Won our first two games and then we got disconnected in OT in our last game. Not bad for two defenseman playing forward positions.

CRXguy · 10-05-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire

CRXguy and I were playing pretty well together tonight. Won our first two games and then we got disconnected in OT in our last game. Not bad for two defenseman playing forward positions.

Yeah, great games last night. Hopefully I get a chance to play with a full squad with you guys next time. I'm always on at 10pm, so I'm up for a game anytime then.

That was the first time I got disconnected during a game. Could've been 3 in a row.

Ducay · 10-05-2008, 04:02 PM

Can I get an invite?

Ducayy = Gamertag