Here's a couple clips, EA_Aljo
https://www.xbox.com/play/media/zd7GCEfGpm
This clip, I think the issue might have been my player's arm seemingly breaking at the socket, so potentially an issue with the physics? Still, it's annoying. Even if it's not an issue with defensive puck pickups themselves, it's at the least a problem that needs addressed with the physics or something.
https://www.xbox.com/play/media/p8Q3zrZJhF
This one, I understand why I ultimately don't come away with the puck, because I tried to stick lift at the very end. My issue is the part prior to that. I narrowly lose a race to the loose puck, but I'm able to make body-on-body contact with my opponent as well as getting my stick on the puck, so it becomes a 50/50. Still, despite having very high defensive awareness (94-97), I still can't win the battle for the puck.
Again, I understand that the stick lift at the end ultimately loses the battle, but the reason I stick lifted in the first place was because I could tell from prior experience that I wasn't going to win the puck.
https://www.xbox.com/play/media/2HXDeTJJJe
I'm not upset about getting burned by the player in this scenario, as I know I got burned because I stopped skating. That's fine. My confusion is why I can't come away with this puck after I successfully pokecheck, the puck ends up closer to my player, and I have high defensive awareness (mid 90s.)
In regards to the last clip, I'd like to add that, imo, it feels a bit unbalanced that whether or not my pokecheck is successful, I get penalized by being slowed down or my opponent gets a great chance at immediately regaining the puck. If players are going to be able to immediately regain pucks after a successful pokecheck, it seems harsh to punish defenders by slowing them down to a crawl.
Like, if you're defending 1-on-1 and both guys are in a beeline style race down the ice, if you successfully pokecheck your opponent, chances are he's going to just pick the puck up again straight away. And, even though your pokecheck was successful, you get a speed deduction for your trouble. So, now you've just been punished for making a good play. How is that rewarding?
Anyhow, I'd love to hear your feedback. I hope that you can see that it's not just the opponent being closer to the puck that makes the difference, as I'm either as close or closer to the puck in these clips and still can't pickup the puck with very high defensive awareness.