EHM The Blue Line

1. Regarding tactics...how come I completely Adam Oates the bed early in games, and then take over late. A recent game against Atlanta was a perfect example.

They scored 5 straight goals in the first 30 minutes, and in the last 30, I scored 6 straight to win 6-5 in overtime. Is this a tactical thing? The only thing I can think of is my players are better conditioned, and are still fresh when the opponents start to get tired. I'm not sure what to do about this though...

2. Does winning trophies affect salary much? Specifically, if my goalie is nominated for the Vezina, should I vote for him, because individual awards are awesome? Or should I vote against him to try to stop him from getting the Vezina, thus making him cheaper to re-sign when his contract is up?



Edited the title for clarity - B72

In the future, you might want to choose a better subject line for your post so people can identify what the subject is about, even if that means breaking it down into two separate posts. Besides being more likely to get responses, it might also help people down the road who are looking for help with those same things and use the search function to find the post.

Anyhow... I'll take a stab at your questions.

1. It's hard to nail it down without seeing what's happening in the game. I'd say conditioning could very well be a part of it. If your players are still playing at top speed in the third period and your opponents are slowing down, that could open up chances for your guys. There could also be something that triggers your guys to wake up and get their butts in gear. Were there any fights? Maybe some big hits? So many different things can change the momentum of the game.

2. I think winning trophies does affect the salary demands but can't say for certain. I know winning trophies can help raise a player's reputation and that in turn would most likely raise his salary expectations. I guess it all boils down to what kind of GM you are. If you're like Harry Sinden was, you'll do all you can to keep a player from reaching conditions to trigger a bonus or a higher salary. I remember the man would even find bad things to say about Ray Bourque when it came time for salary negotiations. That's just bad! I play it differently. I want my team and it's players to be know as the best. If that entails a higher salary, it's worth it.

Yeah, I'll have to pay a little more attention from now on. And I'm an ******* of a GM, so I know what to do with my voting now

bruins72 wrote:In the future, you might want to choose a better subject line for your post so people can identify what the subject is about, even if that means breaking it down into two separate posts. Besides being more likely to get responses, it might also help people down the road who are looking for help with those same things and use the search function to find the post.

I honestly thought for a few minutes of what to title this. And I couldn't think of anything clear that wasn't a sentence long . I didn't want to make two separate threads just for answers to my questions, but the users searching for help, I didn't think of.

How often do you have games like the one you described against Atlanta? Things like that can always occur, but usually not very often.

About the "problem" itself (not really a problem, as you won the game ), it can be due to tactics, players' workrate, or something very specific to your team, like it occurs in real life where teams start bad and finish high (or the contrary). It should also be a lineup issue. If you change your lineup every game, the guys don't know where to be. However in this case you'd just loose 0-5

Shadd666 wrote:How often do you have games like the one you described against Atlanta? Things like that can always occur, but usually not very often.

About the "problem" itself (not really a problem, as you won the game ), it can be due to tactics, players' workrate, or something very specific to your team, like it occurs in real life where teams start bad and finish high (or the contrary). It should also be a lineup issue. If you change your lineup every game, the guys don't know where to be. However in this case you'd just loose 0-5

Huge comebacks happen maybe once a month in gametime. But maybe once a week something similar will happen. Like me giving up 3 goals in the first, and then losing 5-4 or something like that.

It just seems like a general trend. Almost every game I give up the first goal, but I still have a decent record (about a 0.650 winning percentage).

Sucker Punch: Hmm... I had this once... Never found the solution... Never searched one though, as i had about the same winning percentage as you

I think it has to deal with the mental. Then, i can't tell if it's goalie's one, players' one, staff's one (ie determination), or anything else.

Do you have this with one specific goalie or with both? If only one, it may be your goalie who needs some minutes to be fully concentrated on the game. Things like this can happen especially with backup goalies or former backup goalies that become starting goalie but aren't used yet to play night after night...

Check the determination and workrate level of your players, and the determination and motivating level of your coaches, espacially your head coach. Maybe there's something there...maybe not...

However, having such a good winning percentage with such bad starts means a strong group that works hard, certainly with a high teamwork level, which is pretty good when it comes to playoffs time

Do you change your tactics mid-game? I know that if I'm trailing going into the 3rd period, I'll change my line usage to "overload" and in most cases my guys will score more. I just don't use "overload" the whole game because it tires guys out.

B72: changing tactics are a way amongst others to explain the comebacks, but not why he struggles at the start of the games Nor why i did once

Sure it does. If your tactics aren't that great in the beginning of the game, you fall behind. Later in the game you make the adjustments and do better. I know I often fall behind because I'm giving my 4th line guys too much icetime and they're making mistakes. Then I go with Overload or Just Three Lines and my guys start mounting a comeback.

B72: You're right there Now we just need a few answers to our questions to help him more

So, here's the recap of the questions:
- do you have this bad start issue with one specific goalie or with both?
- do you change your tactics mid-game?

It was both goalies, and I usually don't bother playing with tactics midgame unless its an important game. Either way, it doesn't matter much anymore because I forgot to turn on autosaving, and I accidentally saved over my game .

Arf So i have no more clue about what could have caused this phenom, and now we can't test anything more I think it has to deal with some mental attributes (visible or hidden!), but can't say it for sure.

Thoughts anyone?