NHL 14 - Stick Skills

NHL^®14 will feature a number of key gameplay improvements for the series, including improved Hockey I.Q., better goal-scoring balance, more realistic goalie behavior and refinements to True Performance Skating.

This week, we’re focusing on Stick Skills. Everything from passing, chops, and pokes has been improved in NHL 14.

See the improvements in action:

Puck Chops

Introduced in NHL 13, Puck Chops help move the puck around the ice quickly. In NHL 14, Puck Chops have been improved in a few ways:

• Chop controls are easier to pull off. Now, you only need to hold the RB/R1 button and then flick the right analog stick in the direction you want to chop. This ensures you’re not chopping the puck when you expect a pokecheck and allows you to chop a puck that is directly in front of you.
• If used when close to the offensive goal, that player will try and put the puck on net.

Faceoffs

Some get frustrated by those who spam during face-offs, so NHL 14 now gives the advantage to the person who get their sticks in early and stays with their initial grip. Timing and skill will be the determining factor in winning a face off and controlling the momentum of a play.

Pokechecks and Defensive Deflections

• Pokecheck effectiveness will still vary based on a player’s stick-checking attributes, but we’ve ensured that pokechecks are less effective if the player’s body is not properly aligned.
• Just like real hockey, players will be stronger when they’re balanced on their skates and poking in the area directly in front of them.
• In NHL 14, speed is now much more of a factor in determining whether a poke or deflection is effective. If a puck is moving with great speed, the puck may slip through the defender’s stick. In other situations, if a defender only gets a piece of the puck, the speed will play a greater role in determining how much the puck will bobble.
• If a defender gets a stick on the puck, the player trying to perform a one-timer will no longer automatically pull it off.
• A player that pokes a puck will no longer pull it back with their own stick in times when it makes double contact.

Passing & Puck Pickups

• Fixes ensure it’s easier to pass to stationary players
• Less offsides on passes near the blueline. Now, the receiver will turn to face the pass rather than pull back to their generic stance and inadvertently go offside.
• On fake slap shots, the pickup is now much more seamless (previously the player would often fumble with the puck when reacquiring it).

Learn more about all the other improvements to NHL 14.

NHL 14 hits store shelves on September 10th, only on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Be sure to check out our NHL 14 Pre-Order Offers before it's too late.

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