3 | Code Cracker Leader
ID: 1701629 Tue, May 27, 2003, 15:56
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If you are into the total team concept, that is, filling out lines with players that complement each other and putting together defensive lines with players that do more than just score goals then yes, it is a great game.
In Faceoff leagues you have to find those role players to round out your team. Guys who are good forecheckers or dmen who can block shots. You need a good faceoff guy in order to control that part of the game.
Players are rated annually on many different aspects of the game. They have defensive ratings and defenders have puck clearing ratings. There are several offensive ratings and then there are the special ratings like 2 levels of faceoff effectiveness, 2 levels of intimidation, forecheckers, blockers, shadow (guys like Peca who will pester your centre to death), power play specialists, penalty killers and guys who can redirect shots. Goalies have their own ratings too.
You decide what lines play when and for how long. If you are the home team then you can change lines whenever the visiting team changes lines. Your players can only play from 1.5 to 2 minutes before they are tired and you must change to a different line.
It all comes down to how well your lines play against a certain opponent. For example, the other team might have some hotshot player like Jagr or Bondra who needs to have a good forechecker on his case whenever they are on the ice. You can put that player opposite Jagr and play that line when Jagr comes on the ice. A lot of little things that make the game fun.
It is different from fantasy hockey in a lot of respects but if you follow hockey closely and know the players and how they play then you will do well in Faceoff.
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