Ea needs to fix this game it's BRUTAL!!!

I defend the short side by watching for this play to develop. Then, I'll poke, hit or block the shot. I'm not saying I stop it every time, but when teams rely on this shot, it's not difficult to anticipate and stop. We go up against teams that try this all the time. Especially, skating to the corner, turning back up to the bottom of the circle and firing it shortside. Our D normally stops this. 

So, are you saying you should be forced to lose if you just started playing today, but have the skill to be a near top 10 player? You have to keep in mind, there are skilled players out there that didn't get the game at launch.

The fundamentals of your game benefit casual friendly players 110% (no skill checks for pick ups) with that being said I do agree with you here. I’ve had games where the end of game stats look like this and I knew I lost because my defence off the rush was just bad. However there are other times where things happen like what the user describes, guys with 0 sauce 0 sty 0 aura skate into my zone like a bot and takes the first shot he’s given and scores, and this will happen 3-4 times in that particular game then all of a sudden stop happening in games that are more closely contested (in a sense of defense, meaning the shot qualities are usually the same or similar as the dud goals from earlier)

gameplay tells all. It’s hard to agree with OP without game footage.

Some of you truly believe the deck is stacked against you and refuse to accept any explanation that destroys that notion. You'd be better served to analyze what you did wrong when you lose and try to tighten up those gaps as opposed to arguing about the game giving bounces to 'lesser players'.

Also, a 900CR is not an indicator of skill and more of an indicator of time spent playing the game online. It stands to reason that you'd acquire more CR and more wins than someone with a 480CR, but that doesn't mean you are 'better' than the player with a 480CR. 

It merely means they play less than you. That doesn't mean they have less skill than you. 

Pointing to a game you lost against an opponent with half your CR and claiming they 'shouldn't have beat' you is pure copium. 

So how do you make the goalie stay glued to the post, other than playing with human goalie? My point was that even if you defend the play correctly the AI goalies logic is utterly flawed near goal line. 

I focus on my own play rather than the goalie. I play defense so I'm there to keep as many pucks away from the goalie as possible. I'm not saying goalies don't need improvements though.

Game is horrible. By far the worst product in years. Be like everyone I know and stop playing it. Maybe more people will continue to complain about wait times and playing same people over and over again. Then maybe a few people in charge of this franchise will be forced to to do something and start caring about their paying customer. Go play another game and we will all realize you can live without this game and the people that make it. I hope there are changes made one day in the right direction but I feel the game keeps going backwards. 

There will be a first glimpse at NHL 26 before there is an update coming for 25 lol.