Can someone tell me what the strategy on the face buttons mean? And do you guys use them regularly?
Defend lead, conservative, standard, aggressive, all out attack - effects how deep in your zone your wingers will start from on a breakout, how quickly your forwards will go up the ice without the puck and how attack minded your defencemen will be.
3-2, 2-1-2 low, 1-2-2 low, 2-1-2 high, 1-2-2 high is your fore check. 3-2 is the most aggressive and the best way to force turnovers in the other team's zone but it also is the most risky because if the opposition breaks out successfully they are generally past the forwards and against two outnumbered defencemen. To simplify, 3-2 means 3 forwards in a line and 2 defencemen in a line. 2-1-2 means 2 wingers deep, 1 centre in the middle behind them and then 2 defencemen behind the centre etc.
Behind the net, crash the net overload is how your offence sets up if you get time in the offensive zone. behind the net - a guy goes literally behind the net to utilise the space down there. Overload - forward edge towards the side of the ice the puck is on. Crash the net - forwards stand close to the net and try to create screens - if you go with this one your main strategy should be shooting with dmen for rebounds.
Protect net, contain puck, normal, puck side attack, high pressure - protect net all players drop back all the way to their defensive positions when the opposition breaks out. High pressure 4 players will immediately put pressure on the puck carrier (this should only be used when you need the puck in the last minute or so) etc.