EASHL Team Tips

[atom27]

I thought i'd start a repository for some basic concepts for defense and generating offense. We have some guys on the X1 squad that are new-ish to the sport and the rules, and thought this would be a good forum to teach/learn.

A few things to start.

1. Turn off commentary (suggested by kilakizzle) This helps you *hear* whats going on. Auditory clues are underrated. Pass calls on both sides definitely get lost in the commentary.

2. Turn off auto-skate. You'll get into position faster and wont get slowed down by turning.

3. Use sprint (L3). Just about every player on every club uses it. Players flying past you all the time? They're sprinting.

4. Be careful when diving to block a pass/shot. If a opponent even breathes on you he'll fall over and it's 2 mins in the sin bin.

Now some concepts for defense. There are two easy effective formations that make it hard for the puck carrier to enter the zone.



The 3-2 trap attacks the puck carrier trying to enter the neutral zone and as you can see all 3 fwds attempt to collapse on the puck.



The 1-4 Trap is a lot more conservative, and is usually employed with the lead. And as you can see, you allow the puck carrier the neutral zone and form a line at the blue line. The Center is used to harass the puck carrier, while everyone else maintains a wide blockade.

On offense we struggle mightily almost every game. But where we have the most success, is when we stumble into a decent forecheck after a dump.



On our breakout, our goal is to get the puck behind their net. Either uncontested (hopefully), or through winning it off of their d-man with the forecheck. think of the 3-2 trap formation, but everyone flows in formation to either the left or right side. Players may rotate around as well. The Center and the puck side winger are responsible for attacking the puck.

This is just a start, and i'd love to hear some good tactics/tips from you guys as its a new game with a different pace from last year, and i think we can all benefit from it.

[Robo COP]

good stuff. I haven't gotten the game yet, but will definitely be checking this thread as much as I can.

Do you notice the different player types actually making a difference? Like are your playmakers not able to contribute much on the 3-2 trap, or is a PLY center bad at harassing the puck carrier?

[atom27]

Quote: Originally Posted by Robo COP

good stuff. I haven't gotten the game yet, but will definitely be checking this thread as much as I can. Do you notice the different player types actually making a difference? Like are your playmakers not able to contribute much on the 3-2 trap, or is a PLY center bad at harassing the puck carrier?

The poke check and stick lift are still really effective this year.

True you probably wont be able to knock a grinder, enforcer, power forward off of puck with a body check from a sniper or playmaker, but hip checks (R3) are still effective for the finesse guys.

[gbaybe]

Thank you for this. My club primarily plays 2v2 and 3v3. Previous years our offense was based on neutral zone turnovers, but in the few days we've had this, we get almost zero. A couple other questions about D I'm hoping someone can answer-
when we carry the puck into the zone, the D is crazy active with sticks and excellent at spacing, it seems completely opposite when they attack our d though, easily skating wide and attacking the net almost unattended, or toe dragging between the circles from a head on attack. Is this setting based, or are we doing something wrong on offense?
Also, anytime we feed the ai point d men, whether it from faceoff or driving deep and kicking it back, they typically pass up great shooting opportunities, and try to force a pass the width of the ice to the other ai d man or cross ice to our human lw, is there a way to avoid that? Either through play or offense aggressiveness setting?

[Robo COP]

Quote: Originally Posted by gbaybe

Thank you for this. My club primarily plays 2v2 and 3v3. Previous years our offense was based on neutral zone turnovers, but in the few days we've had this, we get almost zero. A couple other questions about D I'm hoping someone can answer- when we carry the puck into the zone, the D is crazy active with sticks and excellent at spacing, it seems completely opposite when they attack our d though, easily skating wide and attacking the net almost unattended, or toe dragging between the circles from a head on attack. Is this setting based, or are we doing something wrong on offense? Also, anytime we feed the ai point d men, whether it from faceoff or driving deep and kicking it back, they typically pass up great shooting opportunities, and try to force a pass the width of the ice to the other ai d man or cross ice to our human lw, is there a way to avoid that? Either through play or offense aggressiveness setting?

I have yet to play on PS4/X1 (I played 15 on 360), but in the past there was always a button to press to "order" your cpu AI players to shoot. It was R1 (RB on xbox I guess). Assuming this is still in the game I'm actually happy that CPU players aren't taking many shots. In the past you could win a FO to the far defender and he'd try to slap it through a cluster of bodies...but then his body would be turned so he'd actually do a terrible backhand

[atom27]

Quote: Originally Posted by Robo COP

I have yet to play on PS4/X1 (I played 15 on 360), but in the past there was always a button to press to "order" your cpu AI players to shoot. It was R1 (RB on xbox I guess). Assuming this is still in the game I'm actually happy that CPU players aren't taking many shots. In the past you could win a FO to the far defender and he'd try to slap it through a cluster of bodies...but then his body would be turned so he'd actually do a terrible backhand

Holding Left Trigger or (L2 on PS4) calls for the AI to shoot generally. I say generally because sometimes, it wont shoot right away, itll skate around and try to get a clear shot.

Tapping Right trigger (R2 on ps4) calls for a pass, and the AI will do that almost instantaneously no matter who or what is in the way lol

[atom27]

Quote: Originally Posted by gbaybe

Thank you for this. My club primarily plays 2v2 and 3v3. Previous years our offense was based on neutral zone turnovers, but in the few days we've had this, we get almost zero. A couple other questions about D I'm hoping someone can answer- when we carry the puck into the zone, the D is crazy active with sticks and excellent at spacing, it seems completely opposite when they attack our d though, easily skating wide and attacking the net almost unattended, or toe dragging between the circles from a head on attack. Is this setting based, or are we doing something wrong on offense? Also, anytime we feed the ai point d men, whether it from faceoff or driving deep and kicking it back, they typically pass up great shooting opportunities, and try to force a pass the width of the ice to the other ai d man or cross ice to our human lw, is there a way to avoid that? Either through play or offense aggressiveness setting?

Try to simplify Defense in your own zone by going with the 2-1-2 formation.

2 wingers stay high, the two Dmen stay low, and the Center attacks the puck.
Even simpler, split the ice into quadrants. And everyone except the center takes care of the puck in their area.

If everyone stays in in their zone, you should have no problem winning the puck when the center comes to help, as hopefully you will get a 2 on 1 on the puck carrier.

So to answer your question, the AI dmen need help, that is up to the center!

Also, if the puck ends up in the slot (the area in the direct middle in between the circles) the dmen need to be pinched in to collect the rebound / clear the crease

[gbaybe]

Thanks guys! The past two days we've been playing close games, pretty much locking down teams on d, and winning / losing 2-1. Our offense still stinks, but as for breakout our default setting is support, or whatever the passive option is. I changed that to wide, blue to blue, and aggressive which has helped a lot leaving the zone.