can just take tips out of the game or make them easier to defend

I've said forever that tips should require a button press to perform. It's ridiculous that you can park yourself in front of the net, put the controller down, and the game will score for you. Totally silly.

What I really find frustrating is just how unreliable the tie-up mechanic is. Most of the time, it feels like the A button just doesn't do anything. I'll be near the player, facing the player, and I just won't get any animation. It seems like it's easier to tie up if the other player just isn't moving at all, but how often does that even happen? Any halfway decent player will be in near constant motion, so you're just kinda hoping you get a lucky animation before a shot from the blueline comes and the player auto tips it perfectly past the goalie.

Very annoying aspect of the game. 

Personally, I like it when deflections and screens are viable tools in the offensive toolbox.

But I also agree that defenders should have tools of their own to better deal with players who park themselves in front of the net.  Tie-ups should be more reliable and/or more intuitive to use.  

You can also shove players in front of the net.

Deflections for the most part are in a good area imo.  Trust me in the past they were like almost auto goals.  They still have to stay semi effective to force people to challenge players with the puck if you are playing 1v1.  Now if you playing 6v6 humans then you can shove players close to the net when a shot is coming.

I tend to get interference penalties when I shove players close to the net. EA_Aljo​ 

I do like that they added this, but it feels very random at times at what I will get a penalty for and what I won't. I could be shoving the guy from the same position during the same cycle at two different times and one I get penalized for the other I don't. On top of that, a key aspect to not getting a penalty is that you need to have no movement when you go to do it. In EASHL anyway, the game is too fast paced still (despite efforts to slow it down a bit which was needed IMO) to be required to stand still before making the shove. 

So this is pretty much your safe shoving zone.  But you can only shove once every real 3 seconds.  Spamming it will get you penalties so you have to make sure you time these things properly.  Also you don't use the back and forth hit for a windup.  You just press in the direction of the player for what I consider a light hit.

Edit: Don't do it if your team picks up the puck

Does this 3 second rule apply to shove vs crosscheck as well?

There is a lack of consistency in using shove without penalty. Furthermore, the safe area for shove ends exactly where the best place for tips begins. So this is "perfect" implementation from EA as always. Another point why to hate this game. 

Well what happens is you normally shove a player but if you go again too fast the chances are much higher you will be taking a penalty such as a crosscheck.  It's most likely meant to be used as a timed thing when a shot is going to be incoming.  Granted this doesn't equate in the 1v1 gameplay but more for full human team scenarios.