| | Operation Sports:NHL 2005: Offensive Strategy, Part 1
By Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor, OperationSports.com
EA SPORTS' newest hockey title was developed in Burnaby, British Columbia, where they know a little bit about nights on frozen pond. The NHL® 2005 team worked feverishly to make this year's game the deepest and most realistic yet, and those that know the sport will appreciate the thinking behind EA's latest and greatest hockey game. 
Sneaking the puck around to score inNHL 2005.
However, not everyone understands the nuances and strategies of the game, and now that NHL 2005 is playable on XboxLive®, where you'll face the best players in the gaming world, you'll need to know more than just skating and shooting.
Well, I'm here to help. In this column, we'll learn about some of NHL 2005's newest offensive features, and discuss how you can apply them to help improve your game. You can't win if you don't score, so let's figure out how to generate a more effective offense.
First, you'll need to figure out how to win the face-off and what to do with it. Gone are the days when the first person who hit the button won the puck and the game started from there. Like the real NHL, strategy is king, and planning what to do before the face-off is just as important as timing. Before the face-off, you'll have an option to set your face-off formation to Conservative, Standard, or Aggressive. The way the players choose to line up will differ depending on which face-off circle is used, and you'll see a small diagram of player position and movement so you'll know what to expect.
Most of the time, you'll want to use Standard, which provides a good balance between offense and defense. If you're protecting a lead, or taking the face-off in your defensive zone, the Conservative formation puts you in a better position to cover the puck. Of course, if you're in the opposite situation, and need a goal in a hurry, the Aggressive formation gives you the best chance at a quick breakaway or open shot. 
Choose your face-off formation carefully.
How you choose to take the draw itself can make a big difference, too. Naturally, if you want to win the draw and quickly pass the puck to a teammate, use the left stick to point to that teammate and tap the A button. Pulling back on the left stick will instead cause the center to kick the puck with his skate back to a defenseman. If you have an outstanding puck-handler at center, you may want him to win the face-off and keep it himself. To try and do this, push the left stick forward and tap the A button as the puck hits the ice. If you're facing a larger, more powerful opponent in the circle (like Boston's Joe Thornton, for example), you can attempt to tie him up and keep him from driving to your net by pressing forward on the left stick and pressing the X button. Last, but not least, if you're near the net, and have a sharp-shooting center like Colorado's Joe Sakic, you can take an immediate shot off the draw. To do this, point the left stick like you were aiming a shot, and press B immediately as the puck drops. He'll rip the shot on goal, and he may take the goalie by surprise.
Once you have the puck, there are a few different ways to maximize your scoring potential. First, you'll need to get open for the shot. The simplest way to do this is to tap the Y button for the "auto-deke". The AI will decide the best deke for you depending on the situation and the relative skill and athleticism of the player. Once you're past the defender, it's time to try and put the "biscuit in the basket"!
With two different shot buttons, you have more control than ever before. The X button will order your player to fire a "wrister"—a quick, accurate shot. The B button will call for the powerful slap shot, and the longer the B button is held, the harder (and less accurate) the shot will be. Hold the left stick in the direction you wish to shoot and hit your shot button of choice. With any luck, you'll be lighting the lamp and blaring the foghorn in no time!
Next week, we'll learn about NHL 2005's new "Open Ice Control", manual dekes, and deke passes and fakes, all of which will help bring your game to the next level. In the meanwhile, work on those face-offs and shots on goal, and have fun!
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