This seems to cause problems when it comes to picking up the puck, especially along the boards and after you’ve checked the puck carrier. On the higher difficulty levels in particular, maintaining possession is a challenge because opponents can easily knock the puck away. The puck also feels more alive this year. In NHL 17, I found myself taking slap shots from the point and attempting to aim them at an area where a teammate engaged in a net battle might be able to deflect the puck in. Deflections always have an element of 'right place, right time' to them, but in the past, those goals felt entirely random - a person happened to be in position when an outside shot came in. Now that bigger forwards can use their size to their advantage and park themselves in front of the net, I saw many more deflected goals.

I still have to remind myself that net battles actually exist in NHL 17 The result is a much lower incidence of exaggerated save animations goalies generally make desperation saves only when those attempts are warranted. This year, new animations for saves allow netminders to stop the puck without making large movements. Net battles combine with a refinement of goalie logic in NHL 17, which produces a notable shift in the kinds of goals that are scored - and in my own behavior. Despite a grand overhaul to the stagnant Be a GM mode and a major expansion to EA Sports Hockey League, NHL 17’s growth is held in check by a persistent staleness, as well as some frustrating issues both in and out of the rink. That’s a baseline expectation these days in simulation sports games, but NHL 17 goes above and beyond with features like a quick draft-based mode that’s inspired by similar offerings in Madden and FIFA.Īt the same time, there’s nothing in NHL 17 that makes me want to sing its praises from the rooftops, like the debut of the On-Ice Trainer did last year. Along with adding new modes, developer EA Vancouver has expanded on existing options in both breadth and depth hockey fans of all stripes are likely to find something here that will pull them in. There’s more to do in NHL 17 than in perhaps any previous entry in the franchise. On the long road back to the glory days of EA Sports’ hockey series, NHL 17makes a few major strides, but it can’t manage a giant leap.

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