On the ice

Every game is played out shift by shift and play by play: faceoffs, passes, zone entries, shots, saves, hits and penalties. What happens comes from the players on the ice, their ratings, how tired they are and how they like to play. The better team wins more often, but not always: a hot goalie, a bounce or a penalty at the wrong moment can turn any game.

The whole game is played before it starts and then broadcast in real time, so nobody, not even you, knows the result before it happens on screen.

Every stoppage ends with a faceoff, and the team that wins it starts with the puck. The center takes it: his “Faceoffs” rating counts most, while “Strength” and “Puck control” help to win a loose puck when the draw is tied up.

Getting the puck into the attacking zone and keeping it there is where chances come from. “Skating” carries the puck in and wins races, “Passing” and “Hockey sense” find the open player, “Puck control” keeps the puck under pressure and “Shooting” turns chances into goals. Shots from close in, through traffic and off a rebound are the most dangerous.

Good defending is mostly about being in the right place. “Defense” covers positioning in your own zone, taking the puck away and blocking shots, and “Hockey sense” reads where the play is going. “Skating” lets a defender keep up, and “Strength” and “Checking” win the battles along the boards and in front of the net.

Hits separate a player from the puck and wear the opponent down. “Checking” decides how well a player delivers a hit, “Strength” how well he takes one and holds his ground. Physical play also draws penalties, which can cost more than the hit was worth.

A goalie can win games on his own. “Reflexes” and “Positioning” stop most shots; “Glove”, “Blocker” and “Low shots” cover where the shot goes; “Rebound control” keeps second chances away; “Reading the play” finds the puck through screens and passes; “Mobility” gets him across the crease; “Stamina” keeps him sharp to the end.

Players tire during a shift and recover on the bench. A tired player skates slower, loses more battles and makes more mistakes, so a long shift in your own zone is dangerous. “Endurance” (and “Stamina” for goalies) decides how long a player keeps his level.

The game changes lines on its own as players tire, and an extra skater can step in when a skater is spent.

Playing at home helps a little. A full, lively arena helps more than a half-empty one: the crowd gives the home team a small lift. See the arena section for what makes the atmosphere.