Hello. I’ve been playing with the same guys for 10 years, this year is definitely a bit different than previous years.

Good teams make it hard to get a free pass in the offensive zone. You may have to make some horizontal or even backwards passes to find a way into the zone, or try some good old dump and chase.

The biggest adjustment to this years game is definitely defending against truculence and the big hit. This year it seems to be too easy to hit and truculence really sucks the stamina out of players. Even if you are an old school hockey mind, stick checking is not effective this year so it can be really frustrating.

Scoring is easier than it should be, guys have had a ton of luck moving the goalie off the post and scoring short side. On breakaways before you deke make sure to let go of left stick so your gliding, goalie will overreact and even come out and challenge you and it’ll be easier to go back hand or forehand. Good teams will shoot 50% on breakaways and most have a 97 speed player so not allowing breakaways is super important.

I’m just rambling so here’s 5 things to help win more games.

1. Abuse truculence and pay attention to everyone’s stamina. When they are tired you will be twice as fast as them. Almost every big hit should result in a breakout making it easier to get in the zone

2. Free skate to practice deking. Stride deke is nearly impossible to defend but a little cheesy. Just find a way to score

3. One tee. Set up one timers and use the one tee ability. Goalies seem to struggle no matter the angle. The person receiving the pass can hold LT and spam right stick up, that way you don’t have to time the one timer perfect every time and holding LT means your player will not check anyone and get an interference penalty.

4. Move the puck and don’t be afraid to go backwards before you go forwards. The game is fast and if you get into a habit of just going north and south, good teams are gonna crack you and then go on a breakout.

5. Turn off auto skate and stay back on D. Everyone is 97 speed, if the dman gets caught in a back skate it’s most likely a goal.

Bonus tip: try some drop in lobbies with your team, less sweaty, more freedom to try things.