Forum Discussion

New Rookie

2 years ago

Solved

Help with Cross-crease setup

My friend and I are new to NHL and just got NHL24 on PS4. We only play each other online with stock teams. I have tried to learn the mechanics and strategies...my friend just plays. He doesn't change strategies, change rosters or even use Icon passing. 9 times out of 10 he just waits in the neutral zone for his AI to get the puck from me, string passes to his player in the neutral zone, then his team rushes down and he ALWAYS has a player on the opposite side to slam in the cross crease goal.

My AI seem to just do whatever they want.

In the attached video Im just in practice. https://youtu.be/DkeFOUHKoyg?si=JDVSvUV7X6t-lpcx

1st rush, my left winger crosses towards me (WHY?) which I read and cross.

The 2nd rush: the LW starts to cross again but then cuts back.

In the last rush the Left winger just runs right into my right winger (me) I'm not making any sudden movements when I control the right winger ( i dont think )

This is what happens in the game for me. He will drop a pass or I poke check the puck, but then when I start the rush or string pass, my opposite forwards are either way behind the play or cut into the middle or even stay on my side and aren't in position for the cross crease goal (Im trying to get a video sample.)

Ive tried moving the hand of the winger to the inside but its the same thing

And again, my friend hasnt tweaked anything and it works every time for him

this happens with any team i use and Ive reset them all to default so its not like I have some weird strategy that would confuse the AI movement. But since its every team I use and my friend makes it work every time i figure there's got to be something I'm doing wrong.

Any advice is appreciated.

KidShowtime1867
2 years ago
@RatedxPGxEnigma wrote:
If only there were some sort of guide available in-game where new players can learn about these sets & strategies. Idk, they could call it something like a tutorial. And utilize the CPU to teach players how to do something other than backhand/forehand/breakaways. Just a thought
EA implemented tutorials in the game a few years ago but they have data that would tell them exactly what % of the player-base utilized it. Chances are, they've omitted that feature since then because it wasn't utilized at all, and there were likely YouTube videos that had more views than players who accessed the tutorial mode.
@DD_Elds wrote:
So I should try to enter the zone as straight as possible or skate towards the boards over the blue line?
It doesn't necessarily need to be as straight as possible or towards the boards. The trick to getting the ai to remain onside is consistency and not making sudden movements with the puck at the blue line.
While you have the puck, try not to stutter while crossing the blue line. Maintain or increase speed, but try not to apply any sudden slowdowns as the a.i. is trying to match your speed to avoid the offside.
If you don't have the puck (in an EASHL situation) and the CPU is carrying it into the zone, gliding and straddling the blue line is a good approach to ensuring the CPU doesn't carry the puck into an offside situation. The CPU is great at not making any last-second movements or passes at the blue line unless a human player has called for the puck.
@DD_Elds wrote:
As far as the LW covering the center, that makes sense, but I still dont get why my friends AI wingers go down the other side in perfect position for the cross-crease pass/Goal on a rush...?
Assuming this means you and your friend play against each other, I would suggest that his success rate in getting advantageous offensive zone setups likely has more to do with how you're defending. It could be that you're playing defense in such a way that is giving him open ice to make the plays he wants. If you had a clip of your friend scoring on you in the way you'd like to score, you should post it and maybe we can see where you can tighten up defensively to start shutting that down.
@DD_Elds wrote:Or maybe I just THINK his wingers are on the other side and really are going up the middle and crossing to the opposite side in time to accept the pass and score. Now that I know that's how the Ai thinks I'll look for it.
Thanks for the help!
I think you're on the right path my friend. Let us know how it goes!

5 Replies

KidShowtime1867
Hero
2 years ago
@DD_Elds wrote:
1st rush, my left winger crosses towards me (WHY?) which I read and cross.
Because you sent a leading pass to a winger who was already transitioning to the middle. He's moving to the middle because the centreman is behind the offensive zone entry. So the wingers are adapting to the lack of middle-support.
Because your trajectory looks to continue moving left, the LW swaps with you in an anticipatory action (something people claim the a.i. never does) to get into a scoring position:
The problem is that you end up aiming the pass behind him:
Always keep in mind that backhand passes are less accurate than forehand passes.
@DD_Elds wrote:
The 2nd rush: the LW starts to cross again but then cuts back.
Same deal here on the initial setup: the wingers look to cover the lack of middle coverage due to a trailing centre:
Difference this time being that Stamkos doesn't move left and continues on a straight path. The a.i. chooses to abandon the swap and continue in an advantageous scoring position:
@DD_Elds wrote:
In the last rush the Left winger just runs right into my right winger (me) I'm not making any sudden movements when I control the right winger ( i dont think )
This is because when you send the pass to Stamkos, his trajectory when receiving that pass is to continue moving straight into the zone. The LW (ai) can see that trajectory behind the scenes and is driving straight-line in order to time crossing the blue line at the same time:
However, the instant Stamkos receives the puck, you instruct him to make a sharp left turn:
This indicates you're holding Left Stick (LS) to the left after you sent this pass, which means your player will attempt to make a hard left turn the moment they receive the puck.
The a.i. then needs to instantly adjust their trajectory and the 'hold the line' animation is triggered in an effort to avoid the offside:
Because Stamkos is still skating into the direction of the oncoming player, combined with the fact that the 'hold the line' animation has to play out with its current trajectory, the two players collide:
Best way to avoid this is to not force your a.i. to make sudden changes to their current path by way of sudden sharp turns at the point of zone entry.
DD_Elds
New Rookie
2 years ago
@KidShowtime1867Thanks for the detailed response.
So I should try to enter the zone as straight as possible or skate towards the boards over the blue line?
As far as the LW covering the center, that makes sense, but I still dont get why my friends AI wingers go down the other side in perfect position for the cross-crease pass/Goal on a rush...? perhaps he is using his center to make the rush on one side? Or maybe I just THINK his wingers are on the other side and really are going up the middle and crossing to the opposite side in time to accept the pass and score. Now that I know that's how the Ai thinks I'll look for it.
Thanks for the help!
RatedxPGxEnigma
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
If only there were some sort of guide available in-game where new players can learn about these sets & strategies. Idk, they could call it something like a tutorial. And utilize the CPU to teach players how to do something other than backhand/forehand/breakaways. Just a thought
KidShowtime1867
Hero
2 years ago
@RatedxPGxEnigma wrote:
If only there were some sort of guide available in-game where new players can learn about these sets & strategies. Idk, they could call it something like a tutorial. And utilize the CPU to teach players how to do something other than backhand/forehand/breakaways. Just a thought
EA implemented tutorials in the game a few years ago but they have data that would tell them exactly what % of the player-base utilized it. Chances are, they've omitted that feature since then because it wasn't utilized at all, and there were likely YouTube videos that had more views than players who accessed the tutorial mode.
@DD_Elds wrote:
So I should try to enter the zone as straight as possible or skate towards the boards over the blue line?
It doesn't necessarily need to be as straight as possible or towards the boards. The trick to getting the ai to remain onside is consistency and not making sudden movements with the puck at the blue line.
While you have the puck, try not to stutter while crossing the blue line. Maintain or increase speed, but try not to apply any sudden slowdowns as the a.i. is trying to match your speed to avoid the offside.
If you don't have the puck (in an EASHL situation) and the CPU is carrying it into the zone, gliding and straddling the blue line is a good approach to ensuring the CPU doesn't carry the puck into an offside situation. The CPU is great at not making any last-second movements or passes at the blue line unless a human player has called for the puck.
@DD_Elds wrote:
As far as the LW covering the center, that makes sense, but I still dont get why my friends AI wingers go down the other side in perfect position for the cross-crease pass/Goal on a rush...?
Assuming this means you and your friend play against each other, I would suggest that his success rate in getting advantageous offensive zone setups likely has more to do with how you're defending. It could be that you're playing defense in such a way that is giving him open ice to make the plays he wants. If you had a clip of your friend scoring on you in the way you'd like to score, you should post it and maybe we can see where you can tighten up defensively to start shutting that down.
@DD_Elds wrote:Or maybe I just THINK his wingers are on the other side and really are going up the middle and crossing to the opposite side in time to accept the pass and score. Now that I know that's how the Ai thinks I'll look for it.
Thanks for the help!
I think you're on the right path my friend. Let us know how it goes!
kKOV27
New Ace
2 years ago
@KidShowtime1867 very well explained again!