Been playing NHL for years and whilst I do like playing hockey game I've always found the NHL by EA very frustrating, for years the goalies were rubbish however NHL 19 they are better but still let the odd stupid goal in.
What really irks me is the supercharged AI on the CPU team, I play mainly against the CPU and when the game has decided it's going to score it will. When it goes into supercharged mode you know exactly what's coming, The CPU team keep popping it from player to player and the AI will drag your goalie out of position so they can score, I've seen the CPU breakaway because my players wouldn't respond to my actions and literally stand still, I've seen a goal go through my goalies body, mostly they smash the puck against the goalie and they instantly smash in the deflection
The CPU team will Always catch you on a breakaway because they slow the user player down like he's skating in treacle and the CPU team seems to always be faster. The cpu team will hook board, charge, your players without a penalty being given and they seem to retrieve the puck very easily no matter what their position is.
Penalties are crazy, the poke check for anything other than when standing in front of the player and puck will get you a penalty against you. However the CPU does what it wants when it wants and rarely gets called. Turned the penalty sliders right down to under 10 and you still get more than the CPU.
Professional level is the best gameplay as the AI doesn't cheat as much, I quite enjoyed pro level however professional level is to easy, Make the step up to ALL star and you really notice the constant AI cheating and the game at times becomes unplayable. I appreciate ALL star has to be more difficult but does the AI have to cheat to make this more competitive? I mean when the CPU team scores a goal from a good play you cant do anything other than hold your hands up and say well done however most of the cpu goals are cheese or AI cheating. Pro level was different and a more rounded and enjoyable experience. I don't mind losing and losing on pro and losing the right way is fine, losing because the AI has decided it's going to handicap your team is frustrating.