It's hard to score from set pieces

Heres the difference. The AI is designed to know how to score given certain situations. You as a player, have to work at being able to do the same. Its the incentive to better your skill set, and adapt, to be able to thwart the AI advantage. And i use the word advantage, as a reasoning that allows the AI to score. Without certain algorithims in its makeup, the AI would'nt be able to do anything. Its what gives it,  its competitive abilities. Have to remember. In an individual player game. You can only control one player at a time. The AI controls the other 11.

I can share 88_Sekiro_'s pain. But then I read what you dogheels wrote. "Its the incentive to better your skill set, and adapt, to be able to thwart the AI advantage". I am playing NHL casually since 1994 and I love the game, even when being bad at it. Today, when I play HUT offline or Be A Pro at Semi-Professional difficulty level, I do not have any chance. My player get hit or disconnected from the puck in a blink of an eye. My honest question is if it is truly only a matter of skill, what I am ready to tackle, or is the AI just broken, what I read a lot of times in this forum. Thanks for your oppinion.

I hear your frustration septicon, and in a way, its not without merit. I highlighted the skill aspect, because that is what one playing this game should aim for. Improving their playing ability. As for your comment about the AI being broken. There are elements in the game, in my opinion, that are questionable. One is the ability of AI players to acquire attributes, their playing card do not possess. There is also the glitches in the game, like calls being made on you and not on the AI. Penalties  icing calls, offsides. So. On summation. It may seem at times your back is against a wall playing this game, but perseverance, and learning ways to adapt are key elements in sucess going forward. Unfortunately, we cannot do anything regarding faults in the game, and EA seems comfortable ignoring them. But you as an individual, can improve your skills, whether you win or lose. You gain in the end. Good luck going forward bud in your pursuits with this game. As an additional note. We all have felt frustration with this game. And like you  i have been playing this game since its inception. We can take this game two ways. Let the problems an annoyances bother us, where we are ready to quit. Or. Knowing the problems we face going in, we play the game for the enjoyment value, and not the manipulated way EA wants us too. Be determined. The game is not better than you!

Thanks, buddy. I appreciate your answer. Yes, it is frustrating from time to time, but I love the game. I know that I am not very good at it and I see it as a challenge to get better against all odds. Currently I am losing hard in HUT online and offline, as well as not doing great in BAP, but I see a huge potential of improvement. As you wrote, taking on the challenge and trying not to complain too much (even when there are many things to complain in this game since the peak of the series in 2014) is what I try. Still a fun game and if frustration grows too much, I still can reduce the difficulty to rookie. Let's do this.

septicon. Just to put things in a different light. The majority of players playing this game vary between beginner and mediocre. I did like your reply, and am glad you see the enjoyment in the game first, rather than the frustration. And you mentioned about changing levels. What i would propose to you is. Find the level that offers both fun and one that gauges progress. Its a one step at a time approach. To add more enthusiam to your game. Go through the various moves, trying the ones you like, and try to be proficient in those. Trust me. It does make a difference seeing your players exercise different ways of playing. Enjoy the game bud, as you have been doing. And drop me a line from time to time, to let me know how your doing. All the best!