If you think my NHL 95 playing is pathetic now...

My NHL 95 (or NHL '95) season abruptly ended last week. I stopped playing for a while and when I did return to the faux Genesis console, I was tired of using my modified Tampa Bay Lightning (made of friends who were rated overall in the low 70's) and figured 49 games into the season with a record of 48-1 (the one loss came (as you'll recall) when I didn't see the Lightning on the schedule so they weren't checked as my next game to play when I selected to play the next day's games, so the game was simulated). My goals against average (0.32) and goals scored average (9.89) weren't changing anytime soon. I already had the top 5 goal scorers, and the top assists leader and 5 of the top 6 places. My goalie wasn't close to anyone else in goals against and save percentage. My shooting percentage was around 59% and I was getting bored. For the last 10 games, I tried to have the top 5 assist players, but it was too cumbersome having to pass backward just to let my defender touch the puck before a goal.

I immediately ended the regular season and tore through the playoffs by an average margin of 11-0.25 (my aggressive goalie passing caught up with me). I beat the Red Wings 14-0 in the finals, with my left winger scoring the fan-favorite quadruple hat trick (she was used for most of the final game's goals since I was playing her favorite team and thought it would be hilarious to have her beat her team...ok, so maybe only I thought it wasn't funny).

Though I've considered a new season with my favorite Buffalo Sabres to average about 16 goals/game, that too will quickly get old. So next season I will take one of the weaker teams like Ottawa, select its worst starting 5 and goalie and use that as my saved lineup for every game. It should provide a much needed challenge since their lack of speed, checking ability, and stick handling, and everything else will really hurt my style of play. I don't think I will be able to replicate the awards presentation success I had with my friends on the Lightning - all 3 MVP nominations, all 3 top forward nominations, best goals against goalie (though this would be a cool one to win with a crummy goalie rated below 50) (by the way, my goalie did not win goalie of the year!), 2 of 3 scoring defenseman nominations, and all 3 playoff MVP nominations.