Setting lines
Probably the most important area of good management are the team lineups. Some players need certain kind of linemates to make full use of their potential and sometimes it’s useful to put together a checking line to shadow the top opponent line.
Chemistry is a big factor in the game and little extra time devoted
to studying good line combos can give you good results in the long run. A true sniper who likes to put the puck to the net can always benefit from a great playmaker on his side and well balanced line usually has some muscle too to get things going near the boards. Another big factor in setting your lines is the tactic. A small-framed highly skillful line won’t click
if you ask them to play a physical game, whereas a line of big, strong players will look especially good if you tell them to hit everything that moves and dig the puck out of the corners to create
scoring chances.
The following table will help you select the right tactics for your lines.
Run & Gun This style is all about challenging the opponent with fast skating and
shooting the puck a lot. To use this tactic effectively, players need to have
good skating and shooting skills. While the run & gun is all about scoring
goals, your own end will have less protection as your defensemen will
support the attack.
Passing plays In passing plays, the idea is to move the puck a lot and try to pass your way
to the goal scoring sector. A playmaking center between two offensive
minded wingers is a good combination to produce goals with this tactic. High
ratings in playmaking and positioning are needful.
Dump & Chase When the opponent is closing down the neutral zone and your forwards can’t
get through with the puck, it’s better to dump in the puck and then chase it to
the corners. You’ll need players who are quite fast and can take the
punishment in the corners to get the puck. While this tactic won’t leave your
own end unprotected, it can be very productive if you have the right
combination of size and speed.
Hit & Grind Bring in the muscle. This is a tactic to be used with players who are high on
hitting and strength. Whenever your players go out and make good
bodychecks, it’s very likely that you can then take control of the loose puck.
This creates turnovers in the neutral zone and can result in scoring
opportunities altough the tactic is more of a defensive minded.
Neutral zone trap When everything else fails and you have players who don’t have finesse
skills, it’s time to apply the trap. Blocking the opponents in the neutral zone
by defending intensively with all 5 players can keep the score low even tough
you don’t match the opponent in overall skill.
15
For special teams, there are different tactics
PP – Shooting With this tactic, your players will try to shoot whenever possible even
without proper traffic in front of the net. You’ll have lots of shots but you’ll
need top snipers to score.
PP - Screen & shoot It’s easier to score goals if there is traffic in front of the net and the goalie
can’t see the puck when fired. This tactics needs some muscle as the area in
front of the net is protected by the defensemen in violent ways.
PP - Passing plays If they have good hands and can move the puck around, why not let them do
it. By moving the puck a lot, you can tear apart the defense and create better
scoring chances. The goalie will have more difficulties stopping shots that
come from onetimers after cross-ice passes.
PP - Crash the net Once again, muscle is needed. Get the puck to a power forward and let him force his way towards the net. With some luck, he will knock some
defensemen with him and you can score dirty goals with all the traffic
blocking the goalie.
PP - Shot from point The very basic tactic of powerplay. Get the puck to the blueline and fire it in.
You’ll need defensemen with big shots (shooting and strength) to score.
Shorthanded tactics .When shorthanded, you’ll need forwards that are good skaters and have good endurance. Defensemen should be big and mean to clear the crease from opposing forwards. The tactics basically vary with the movement of the SH players and the size of are on which they move. The aggressive tactic will tire the players most and gives opportunities for turnovers while tight box will
make it harder to score on PP and is less tiring.
You can also make a difference by adjusting the icetimes of the different lines. For even strength lines, the icetime value states the approximate amount of seconds the line will stay on ice during a
shift. For special team lines (PP & SH), the value is a percentage on how the coach uses the line on the occasion. Setting 1st PP line’s icetime value to 90 will result the line being on ice most of the time when the team is playing on the powerplay.
Probably the most important area of good management are the team lineups. Some players need certain kind of linemates to make full use of their potential and sometimes it’s useful to put together a checking line to shadow the top opponent line.
Chemistry is a big factor in the game and little extra time devoted
to studying good line combos can give you good results in the long run. A true sniper who likes to put the puck to the net can always benefit from a great playmaker on his side and well balanced line usually has some muscle too to get things going near the boards. Another big factor in setting your lines is the tactic. A small-framed highly skillful line won’t click
if you ask them to play a physical game, whereas a line of big, strong players will look especially good if you tell them to hit everything that moves and dig the puck out of the corners to create
scoring chances.
The following table will help you select the right tactics for your lines.
Run & Gun This style is all about challenging the opponent with fast skating and
shooting the puck a lot. To use this tactic effectively, players need to have
good skating and shooting skills. While the run & gun is all about scoring
goals, your own end will have less protection as your defensemen will
support the attack.
Passing plays In passing plays, the idea is to move the puck a lot and try to pass your way
to the goal scoring sector. A playmaking center between two offensive
minded wingers is a good combination to produce goals with this tactic. High
ratings in playmaking and positioning are needful.
Dump & Chase When the opponent is closing down the neutral zone and your forwards can’t
get through with the puck, it’s better to dump in the puck and then chase it to
the corners. You’ll need players who are quite fast and can take the
punishment in the corners to get the puck. While this tactic won’t leave your
own end unprotected, it can be very productive if you have the right
combination of size and speed.
Hit & Grind Bring in the muscle. This is a tactic to be used with players who are high on
hitting and strength. Whenever your players go out and make good
bodychecks, it’s very likely that you can then take control of the loose puck.
This creates turnovers in the neutral zone and can result in scoring
opportunities altough the tactic is more of a defensive minded.
Neutral zone trap When everything else fails and you have players who don’t have finesse
skills, it’s time to apply the trap. Blocking the opponents in the neutral zone
by defending intensively with all 5 players can keep the score low even tough
you don’t match the opponent in overall skill.
15
For special teams, there are different tactics
PP – Shooting With this tactic, your players will try to shoot whenever possible even
without proper traffic in front of the net. You’ll have lots of shots but you’ll
need top snipers to score.
PP - Screen & shoot It’s easier to score goals if there is traffic in front of the net and the goalie
can’t see the puck when fired. This tactics needs some muscle as the area in
front of the net is protected by the defensemen in violent ways.
PP - Passing plays If they have good hands and can move the puck around, why not let them do
it. By moving the puck a lot, you can tear apart the defense and create better
scoring chances. The goalie will have more difficulties stopping shots that
come from onetimers after cross-ice passes.
PP - Crash the net Once again, muscle is needed. Get the puck to a power forward and let him force his way towards the net. With some luck, he will knock some
defensemen with him and you can score dirty goals with all the traffic
blocking the goalie.
PP - Shot from point The very basic tactic of powerplay. Get the puck to the blueline and fire it in.
You’ll need defensemen with big shots (shooting and strength) to score.
Shorthanded tactics .When shorthanded, you’ll need forwards that are good skaters and have good endurance. Defensemen should be big and mean to clear the crease from opposing forwards. The tactics basically vary with the movement of the SH players and the size of are on which they move. The aggressive tactic will tire the players most and gives opportunities for turnovers while tight box will
make it harder to score on PP and is less tiring.
You can also make a difference by adjusting the icetimes of the different lines. For even strength lines, the icetime value states the approximate amount of seconds the line will stay on ice during a
shift. For special team lines (PP & SH), the value is a percentage on how the coach uses the line on the occasion. Setting 1st PP line’s icetime value to 90 will result the line being on ice most of the time when the team is playing on the powerplay.
