NHL '94 One-Timers

[Ho Yoon]

Can someone explain how the drones or computer controlled players are
supposed to behave in the attack zone? I've had some games where I go
into the attack zone down one side or another, waiting for a drone to
come down the middle for one-timer attempts but often I am the only one
in the zone. I end up 1 on 5, waiting for someone else but I usually
get checked before I can attempt a good shot or a one-timer. This is
happening even with the off-sides penalty turned off.

[a01read@skyfox]

Basically you have to accept the fact that you will not be able to be on
a pseudo breakaway (that is, ALL ALONE IN THE ATTACK ZONE) when you want
a 'one-timer'. It is also a bad idea to use a center to set up the play
as he is the leader on the ice. This results in the drone wingers to
fall back upon his leadership and not to pursue too madly... after all
he is the center and he is supposed to score!!! This is hyperbole on my
part though. If you are a winger, and are skating up the ice ahead of the
center, he will attempt to catch up, and do it QUICKLY. So, skating on the
edge, beside the boards (a la Wendel Clark in the real life Maple Leafs)
all one has to do is coast until the center who is agreeably quick in his
strides down the ice, is in the centre of the attack zone. THEN, you pass
and hit C. If all goes well, the shot will be taken.

THE RULE THEN IS TO USE A WINGER AND TRY TO PASS TO THE CENTER.

toot toot
dread

[Brad Murray]

The computer offensive players are not really bright. You have to go into the
zone with the puck first and then they will come in behind you, or you have
to catch them in the zone before they can get out. They play as if off-sides
is on even if it is not. Usually the best thing to do is skate in on the
wing and go behind the goal. By the time you come out on the other side
there is usually somebody to pass to.

Brad Murray
bmu...@njcc.wisdom.bubble.org

[Brad Murray]

Actually wingers are the ones that score more in real hockey. Centers pick
up most of the assists. Just look in the sports page. Guys like Gretzky
and Gilmour are all assist at center and guys like Selanne and Hull are all
goal at wing.

Brad Murray
bmu...@njcc.wisdom.bubble.org

[James Roepcke]

ffensive players are not really bright. You have to go into the
zone with the puck first and then they will come in behind you, or you have
to catch them in the zone before they can get out. They play as if off-sides
is on even if it is not. Usually the best thing to do is skate in on the
wing and go behind the goal. By the time you come out on the other side
there is usually somebody to pass to.

-------------------------------------------END QUOTE------------
I have been playing NHL Hockey since the DAY 92' cam
watching Hockey on TV since I started watching TV. Not sur-
prisingly, I'm Canadian. Everyone I know that plays videogames here in
Victoria is insanely happy about '94, for obvious reasons...
Anyway, the idea that the offensive CPU players lag behind the player

entering the zone first is not an oversight on the part of the NHL 94
programmers. It is the way Hockey is, especially the NHL, with it's torid
offensive pace. It is lucky just to get in the zone most of the time, and it
is perfectly normal to be far ahead of the other winger/center. Just slow doen
wn
half way to the goal line, and wait for your center to come towards you. Pop
him the puck and shoot. Or, another great move is to come in with an agile

Defensman, like Paul Coffey or Chris Chelios, or Steve Duchesne (QUE), and
turn
parallel to the blue line as you pass it. Then wait for your winger
s to come in
and pop em the pass, maybe a give-and-go, or a triple pass, or even a drop
pass
to the center or the other D, etc. Don't think of it as a bug that the puck-
carrier is so far ahead of the team, it's just another example of how EA has
made NHL Hockey '94 the most realistic sports simulation in the 16-bit world.

I have been reading many people use Auto-Line changes frequently. I'm just
gonna flog off my opinion on this one. You're better off to use manual. It let

s you use strategy as far as who you put on and when. It's sometimes very imp

important to have certain lines on at certain times. Think of maybe keeping you

r Sc1 line fresh and on the bench when you're winning, using Sc2 and Chk, to ke
e
p the puck out of your zone and make the odd offensive rush. Then, if you go on

the powerplay or penalty killing lines you have an advantage over the other t
am


r
team. As well, the other team is likely to use the Sc1/2 lines frequently when

down, so if they start coming back you have a fresh line to wear down their line

s. I also like to put the Chk line on when I'm in my zone (if I'm not down),
t
o clear the puck easier. Then I can easily change my line to ScX and waste a
go
od 20 seconds or so.

One last point. Use Manual Goalie whenever you can...especially to "tackle" pla

yers coming from the wing behind the net. But be VERY careful about this. Ma
ke
sure that they have either FULLY COMMITTED to skating with the puck (not passin

g it for an easy one-timer), or you have enough D around to block the pass.
Just smash the
Just smash the hell out of the guy as he comes around. Then snatch the puck up

with a D and fling it up-ice. YOur wingers should be on their way, cause they t

end to be on "offensive-alert" when you select your goalie...

Jim Roepcke
CSC student @ UVic
jroe...@ra.uvic.ca jroepcke.newsol.bc.ca

PS: Sorry 'bout the double spacing! Damn Windows pasting!! :)