NHL 24 CPU is unfair

Let me tell you about this in WoC in NHL 24 
The opponents CPU players are ALWAYS better then ours. Our players run from the puck, won't play D, do not poke check, and frequently allow the opponent to skate right through them. It is nothing short of... sabotage. As soon as I cross into the offensive zone, I have 2 CPU defenders and 1 human player on my butt asap. As soon as I come within a few feet of these guys, my player loses the puck and loose everything. That's right... they don't even need to check/poke/lift to get the puck from me nor my human teammate nor my CPU teammates but we do. Meanwhile these guys and there CPU skate around like ballerinas, weaving, bobbing through traffic as if it was a game of Team Canada verse a bunch of 8U or U11 players. Ive tried every defensive strategy, yet still our CPU teammates are not only useless, yet seemingly working for the other team. They pass is right to the nothingness, don’t pass in general, pass last second to loose it, or to the opponent, regardless of whether we call for the puck or not. Our CPU player will have a clear breakaway, and not shoot the puck, rather pass it to nobody (this happened tonight) as soon as he's in front of the net. My question is what are we doing wrong? Is there some vital stat, like aggressiveness or durability, that we may be lacking? EVERY game we are at a noticeable disadvantage. Its very frustrating. We can’t do nothing but loose because of this issue, even when I’m in front of the puck I can’t block it and it goes it. I love the game but it makes me want to stop playing it when I can’t even play forward without being worried about my CPU defense not doing there job and letting a breakaway from the far blue line. What is the secret to EASHL? Why do other teams regularly dominate us puck possession wise and with CPU? Any tips on how to make our players not completely useless? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

To EA