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You'll have to start on the easiest difficult. The AI actually does a good job at playing hockey the way it should be played, so unless you know how to properly play defense in hockey, i.e. not going for a check every time someone is carrying into your zone, you're going to be getting scored on a LOT. In NHL07, I would play on the hardest difficulty settings, and still win 10-0, but in NHL08 I'd be lucky to win on the hardest difficulty setting. I would even get a game where I'd be completely trounced on the middle difficulty settings. And in term of scoring, you're really going to have to work for that. Not just because the goalies are much tougher, but because opposing players won't just let you walk around them, or pass through them, on your way to the goal. You'll have to work the puck to the strength of the current players you have on the ice, as well as in line with the current offensive play they're operating with.
And considering that you don't use any of the face buttons, that'll be something you'll certainly need to come to grips with. Most people I've played the game with switch over to the regular button controls, but that's always going to put you at a huge disadvantage, plus, it just isn't as fun. And like any game, there are certain nuances you won't pick up on until you've played it for a bit.
You won't be able to pick it up and dominate, you may not even be able to be competitive at first, but the game is easy enough to learn, and once you've got the hang of the controls, you'll be fine.
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