The 2008-2009 NHL Video Games Thread

[fazzle 0]

Well, I finally finished my playoffs with the Sabres. Swept the Devils, even though every game was close. The Capitals then took me to 6 games before I finally beat them, and in beating them I lost Tim Connolly for the rest of the playoffs with a concussion. Then I met the Pens in the ECFs, and the shit hit the fucking fan. The Pens won the first two games in Buffalo, and then I went and won 2 in Pittsburgh. I then went on to game 5, and appeared to have the series back under control, but then I couldn't score at ALL in game 6. I finally got one past Fleury with less than a minute left, and sent the game into OT. But Sykora won the game with 12 seconds left in the first OT to send it back to Buffalo for a 7th game. However, in OT, the Pens lost Gary Roberts to an MCL sprain, and evidentally that was enough to completely fuck their team, as I won 6-2 in game 7.

 

So then I went on to face the Ducks in the finals, and I finally had an easy series. I just completely destroyed them in a sweep, winning 6-1, 5-2, 4-3, and 5-1. After being so spread out with scoring in the regular season(#2 scoring team in the NHL, but no single player had even 1 PPG) I was really damn top-heavy in the playoffs. Hecht won the Conn Smythe with 24 goals and 12 assists in 21 games, and Afinogenov had 34 points, with something like 14 goals and 22 assists. Nobody else on the team had more than 17 points.

[Matt Young 0]

I'm tied with Ottawa for most points in the league at 67 (as opposed to the 71 the real Kings got this year). I've played more games than them, though, at 44 in. I just played 6 straight after not getting to play since Friday.

 

I had a 9 game winning streak going, but lost at home to the worst team in the Western Conference, Calgary. I was up 2-0 before they scored on a power play, then on a penalty shot- first time I had ever seen one of those in NHL 08. Then they got the first goal in the shootout to win 3-2, even though I out-shot them 49-23. I always seem to beat the good teams and slip up against the shitty teams.

 

I was victorious, however, in my next game against shitty Nashville. I decided to start playing Bernier on occasion against crappy teams, and when he has a day off from Manchester. Just wanted to get him some NHL experience, but he will stay primarily with Manchester through this season since they need him. It was only the 2nd time someone other than Labarbera has been in goal (Cloutier started once) but we won 3-1. Bernier only saw 12 shots, but looked good.

[Matt Young 0]

That EA Sports World Tournament is an easy 50. I decided to fuck with that after my All-Star game and got the 50 GS points in 2 hours' (6 games') work.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Does anyone have NHL 2K8? I have a hard time scoring and I keep getting out shot by a wide margin.

[fazzle 0]

That EA Sports World Tournament is an easy 50. I decided to fuck with that after my All-Star game and got the 50 GS points in 2 hours' (6 games') work.

 

 

The "out of the box" one is easy as hell too. The game only says you need to PLAY on the highest difficulty and not commit a penalty.

 

Doesn't say anything about winning.

 

[the max 0]

I forgot about the salary floor when I went to trade Chara. I'm 15 million under the cap right now, trading him for a prospect and two picks would take me under the 41 million dollar floor.

 

So I've decided to cheat for the first time in this game. I'm going to sign Justin Williams (still a free agent in January), his pro-rated salary will take over for Chara's and then I'll let Williams walk at the end of the year.

[the max 0]

So updates:

 

Everyone is back in the lineup, Krejci leads the NHL in points, Chara was traded to the Blues along with a third rounder for a 75 overall left-winger (my area of weakness), a 1st rounder and a 3rd rounder. With Justin Williams on board, I didn't slip under the salary floor (I'm above the floor by 250,000) and I'll have about 22 million this offseason to play with.

 

As it is, I'm third in the conference, only slipping back two spots without Bergeron, Zherdev and Coburn, which is a big credit to David Krejci. We're through 65 games and he has 101 points and has been completely carrying the team the last few weeks.

[Matt Young 0]

Apparently the NHL 2K9 demo is out now on Xbox Live Marketplace. I'm downloading it now.

 

Also, after going back to NHL 08 to finish my last dozen season games and the playoffs before the new game releases, I decided to try the skill stick again. After 2 games of hating it, it clicked. I like it a lot now. I don't necessarily prefer it over classic, but ti's not bad and I can aim my shots where I want more efficiently.

[Matt Young 0]

It's been up for a few days, but:

 

IGN's review of NHL 09 (9/10)

[Steviekick 0]

The last hockey game I bought was NHL 07. What do you guys recommend for this year...09 or 2K9?

[Matt Young 0]

I recommend downloading the demos of both. But based on last year's games, NHL 08 was the best sports game I had ever played 9and I didn't even follow hockey at the time) and NHL 2K8, while not terrible, was pretty mediocre. I'd go with EA's game.

 

Oh, apparently the online leagues of last year are gone completely in favor of the EASHL being the only online league mode. Can anyone confirm this? If so, do we have enough people interested to field a team?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I'll be getting NHL 09. If there's gonna be a team...I am most definitely down.

[Matt Young 0]

Well, my friend who got me into hockey in the first place just called, saying he went to Best Buy (who advertised that they'd have it at 2 P.M. today) and they had a sign up saying NHL 09 wouldn't be in till tomorrow. Fuck.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Yeah I went looking for it today too. NHL 2K9 was out...but 09 is tomorrow. Boo.

[Matt Young 0]

I just picked up the NHL 09 on the way home from the gym. After eating and showering, it's on!

[Matt Young 0]

Great game. I played 3 online EASHL games and that's fantastic. Be a Pro mode is great as well, which makes sense since it's the single player version of EASHL. Played 5 games of that.

 

I've only played 2 games of dynasty but the game definitely seems harder than last year. That's good, considering I breezed to a 63-14-0-5 record en route to sweeping all 4 rounds of the playoffs in NHL 08.

 

But I have a feeling I will struggle against human opponents. The Kings are the lowest rated team in the game, which is to be expected after they tied for the league's worst record last season and then traded away their leading scorer, and had their team captain defect to a division rival.

 

I can only be on one EASHL team, so no go on that, but if there's enough interest, we can do a league. It's the same format as Madden's leagues.

[Matt Young 0]

How's everyone's offline Be A Pro going? Those who have tried it, that is. I'm a sniper center for the Manchester Monarchs (LA Kings) and I was promoted to the 2nd line after 7 goals in 5 games. I'm now sitting on 9 goals and 1 assist after 6 games. 2 of those goals were empty netters, though. My team is 4-2.

[Nightwing 0]

How is the "Coach Feedback" Thing? Does it actually give good advice and feel natural? Have you experienced any backlash yet? Any more you can tell us about "Be a Pro" mode would be appreciated.

[the max 0]

Coach feedback is hit or miss.

 

I'm a 3rd line grinder, though I might restart as a dangler/playmaker since I seem to be better at that.

 

For some reason I got put on the powerplay, I made like, five passes that were fucking tape to tape, no goals. I made hits in the corners to free pucks up, had a chance on a redirection...essentially I raised fucking hell when I was out there. I get "You're going to have to do something out there if you want to stay on the power play." Get bent coach.

 

I also can't seem to figure out why I get a lower grade in the 'Team' aspect of it, since I take short shifts since I'm on the 3rd line. I'm always an A- to an A+ positionally, I only have 1 assist in 3 games, but my team rating is poor.

[Matt Young 0]

Fazzle and I played 3 games. All were decided by 1 goal, and the last 2 went to overtime. That was fun.

 

Hopefully, we can get a small league going. Maybe 8 people or so. Myself, fazzle, bps, the max.... others? Would any of you be interested?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I will 100% be in. Of course...I'm not all that good at 08 and I haven't put 09 in yet...but I don't mind losing. I can only get better.

[the max 0]

I can't swing a gold membership. I know they're only 50 bucks, but it's 50 bucks I just don't have. As much as I'd rather smoke all y'all, I'd rather buy my own house (very soon).

[Vigo 0]

Coach feedback is hit or miss.

 

I'm a 3rd line grinder, though I might restart as a dangler/playmaker since I seem to be better at that.

 

For some reason I got put on the powerplay, I made like, five passes that were fucking tape to tape, no goals. I made hits in the corners to free pucks up, had a chance on a redirection...essentially I raised fucking hell when I was out there. I get "You're going to have to do something out there if you want to stay on the power play." Get bent coach.

 

I also can't seem to figure out why I get a lower grade in the 'Team' aspect of it, since I take short shifts since I'm on the 3rd line. I'm always an A- to an A+ positionally, I only have 1 assist in 3 games, but my team rating is poor.

 

Do you hog the puck? If you don't use your linemates then it also affects the team rating.

 

 

 

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I'm in, even though I'm hooked on BaP, online and off.

[the max 0]

I restarted.

 

Since I was a winger, I was dependant on the center for faceoffs and setting up the offense. I made it up to the Bruins on the third line with Axelsson-Schaefer-me. Schaefer went 0-for-200 on faceoffs, I was just 2-0-2 in 21 games. Hard to get offense going when you can't win a single fucking draw. I restarted and now I'm a center.

 

My gripe with the coaching still stands. I tried hogging the puck, I tried passing every opportunity, I tried everything and there was no consistant way to keep the Team stat up. I think it's an intangible thing like "leadership" or something. Whatever it is, I don't like it. And the coaches never adjust any of the lines during the game, nor do they change them at all in between games. Like I said, Schaefer was 0-for-200 on faceoffs, I was 12-for-12 in limited draws on the PK and yet I'm stuck at RW while Schaefer was allowed to suck ass.

[AntiLeaf33 0]

I restarted.

 

Since I was a winger, I was dependant on the center for faceoffs and setting up the offense. I made it up to the Bruins on the third line with Axelsson-Schaefer-me. Schaefer went 0-for-200 on faceoffs, I was just 2-0-2 in 21 games. Hard to get offense going when you can't win a single fucking draw. I restarted and now I'm a center.

 

My gripe with the coaching still stands. I tried hogging the puck, I tried passing every opportunity, I tried everything and there was no consistant way to keep the Team stat up. I think it's an intangible thing like "leadership" or something. Whatever it is, I don't like it. And the coaches never adjust any of the lines during the game, nor do they change them at all in between games. Like I said, Schaefer was 0-for-200 on faceoffs, I was 12-for-12 in limited draws on the PK and yet I'm stuck at RW while Schaefer was allowed to suck ass.

 

I thinking about restarting mine and going centre as well. I'm a playmaker, but when my team can't get control of the puck long enough for me to make a play, it make my productivity falter a bit. Oh, and being on the ice for a goal against seems to rank a little too high against you. All the same, I gotta say I'm loving BAP so far.

[fazzle 0]

Wow. In Be a Pro mode, I made it to the NHL after only 16 games.

 

That's...ridiculously easy.

[AntiLeaf33 0]

Dumb question: How long did it take most of you to get used to the right analog stick shooting mechanic? I'm kind of getting the hang of it, but I really suck when it comes to trying to pull off a deke. Thank God for practice mode.

[fazzle 0]

Probably about 10-15 games in NHL 08.

 

 

And I'm now on the 2nd line on the Sabres, after just 5 games in the pros. It's fucking ridiculous how fast they promote you.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Dumb question: How long did it take most of you to get used to the right analog stick shooting mechanic? I'm kind of getting the hang of it, but I really suck when it comes to trying to pull off a deke. Thank God for practice mode.

 

Like Fazzle, it probably took me about a dozen games as well. I remember coming home with '07 and thinking how awful it was the first few games. Then once you're used to it, how did we play with the d-pad for so many years? The skill stick is much better.