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EA SPORTS NHL 12 Season Simulation Predicts Penguins will become Stanley Cup Champions in 2012
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – October 5, in the year of our
Lord 2011 - A simulation run by EA SPORTS™ NHL® 12
predicts that Sidney Crosby, despite missing almost 17 games
during the regular season, will lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to
a second place finish in the Eastern Conference standings (100
points) and their fourth Stanley Cup® Championship. Crosby will
be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Penguins take home the
Stanley Cup in a decisive 4-2 series win against a resurgent
Chicago Blackhawks team. The Vancouver Canucks will capture the
Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back years with 114 points during
the regular season. The EA SPORTS NHL franchise has a history of
successful simulation predictions, accurately selecting: the
Chicago Blackhawks as the 2010 Stanley Cup® champions; the
Vancouver Canucks® as the 2011 Presidents’ Trophy winner; and
the 2011 Stanley Cup Final matchup of the Boston Bruins and
Vancouver Canucks.
According to the simulation, last year’s Stanley Cup Champion
Boston Bruins will be unable to claim back-to-back glory as the
new-look Philadelphia Flyers will eliminate the former champions
during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five
games. The Vancouver Canucks will lose in the Western Conference
Final to the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, adding fuel to
the rivalry that has gripped the two cities in recent years.
Other notable team storylines the simulation predicted for the
2011-2012 NHL season are as follows:
· The Toronto Maple Leafs will squeak out an eighth place finish
in the Eastern Conference, making the Playoffs for the first
time in seven seasons
· The Minnesota Wild will finish eighth in the Western
Conference and will make the Playoffs for the first time since
2008
· The Tampa Bay Lightning will once again miss out on the
Stanley Cup Final; eliminated by the Penguins in a seven game
Eastern Conference Final
Several individual players also stood out in the NHL® 12
simulation. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will once
again lead the League offensively, posting 110 points and will
take home several pieces of hardware, winning the Art Ross, Ted
Lindsay and the Hart Memorial trophies. NHL®12 Cover Athlete
Steven Stamkos will capture the Rocket Richard Trophy with 53
goals. The Nashville Predators’ Shea Weber will capture the
James Norris Memorial Trophy and Chicago Blackhawks captain
Jonathan Toews will take home the Frank J. Selke Trophy. Brayden
Schenn will thrive with the Philadelphia Flyers in his rookie
season and will be awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy. Henrik
Lundqvist of the New York Rangers will take home his first ever
Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie, leading all
netminders with 41 wins and nine shutouts.
A simulation is conducted by artificial intelligence or logic of
the videogame that uses real-life data from each player. Results
are extrapolated by the videogame when two teams match up based
on player ratings, line combinations, and include variances such
as injuries and hot streaks to give a realistic outcome of a
game or series.
EA SPORTS NHL®12 authentically captures hockey as it is played
on the ice with more than 300 gameplay refinements highlighted
by three key innovations: Anticipation AI, Dynamic Goalies and
the Full Contact Physics Engine. Anticipation AI takes NHL® 12
to the next level as players will now intuitively determine
their next move by reading and anticipating the play. With the
Full Contact Physics Engine, size and strength matter. NHL®12
continues to innovate by giving you true to life collisions and
control over the battles around the crease. With Dynamic
Goalies, goalies are live for the first time ever. Players can
make contact with goalies as they crash the crease and goalies
will battle through traffic in front of the net as they fight
through screens to make awe-inspiring saves.
New in EA SPORTS NHL®12 is the introduction of legends; nine
former NHL greats – including Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and
Mario Lemieux – will be integrated into the game across
virtually every mode, including the all-new Be A Legend Mode. Be
the next great legend in the revamped Be A Pro mode. Play as
your created pro and earn every shift on the ice with stellar
play, big hits, and spectacular goals as you progress towards
greatness. New to the mode is the ability to simulate to your
next shift with the all-new EA SPORTS Action Tracker, which
tracks and presents every major event that takes place while
your character is off the ice. This feature will enhance the
gameplay experience as gamers will now spend less time watching
from the bench and more time playing, while still being aware of
the game situation as they step back onto the ice for their next
shift.