5 posts tagged “hockey”
Pens lose 2-4 to the Thrashers.
Ouch.
It is now 2-1 Thrashers after two...we need some better passing in the 3rd.
Let's go Pens!
The Pens are up 1-0 over the Thrashers after one period.
Go Pens!
I have to show my colors a bit. Here's hoping the Steelers have a great season!! Yeah, Big Ben will be out tomorrow, but what can you do, eh?
I'm also excited to know that Evgeni Malkin is now here in "da 'Burgh." Hopefully he will be a big contributor on what I already think is an exciting, young Pittsburgh Penguin team.
Today I got to sit down and try CSE Games' NHL Ice Breaker Card Hockey Game. It plays fast, is easy to pick up, and has more advanced options for more strategic play (I have not had a chance to play by those rules yet, however.)
The main mechanic of the game is a modified deck of standard playing cards. Players start a "shift" with five cards in hand, and play cards in a "war" like fashion. (example: both players flip over a card. If the first player flips over a 6, and the other flips over a 4, the 6 wins...unless the other player drops another 4 and the first player cannot drop a six. This tug-of-war sends the puck across the ice, in a direction and distance determined by the cards. If a player makes it into his opponent's "shooting zone," they both flip over a card, and if the offensive player wins, he scores.
Hands are refilled at game stoppages, or "on the fly" if a hand is completely exhausted. This mechanic has strategic consequences. For example, when a goalie makes a stop, he can freeze the puck, or tap it back in, depending on the situation. Landing on yellow outlined squares triggers an "Ice breaker" which can be good or bad for the player.
The game makes use of the NHL teams by providing three "trump" cards for each team. Each team has either 2 "offensive" trump cards and 1 "defensive" one, or visa-versa. These come into play when a team is making (or attempting to block) a shot.
The game plays in three "periods" - three runs through of the deck. Scoring is very true to hockey. The game plays fast, does a good job of capturing the feel of hockey, and, above all, is fun. If you have the chance, give it a try.
