Shocking Introduction: A First Look at the NHL 13 Demo (LA Kings vs. New Jersey Devils)

Are you ready for some hockey? Well that’s too bad, because the only hockey you’re going to be seeing this year is in video game form. While the idiots that run the NHL and their dufus players are busy fighting over the best way to kill the NHL for good with a lockout, we are fast approaching the release of EA’s annual hockey release on September 11th. Armed with Philadelphia Flyers dynamo Claude Giroux as its cover athlete, NHL 13 may be the only way to get your hockey fix in the next year, and that’s just too bad. Didn’t they learn last time when the lockout nearly killed the sport? For shame.

A demo is available today on Xbox Live and Playstation Network and features the two teams that participated in last year’s Stanley Cup Finals: the Champion Los Angeles Kings against the New Jersey Devils. I can’t really tell how many changes were made, but I do see they still made passing super weak with the A button under custom controls, so it looks like another roster update! I really appreciated being able to play one 5 minute period as well. At least with Madden this year, they gave up four five minute quarters. Apparently that was too much to ask from their NHL brethren. I guess that is appropriate given the current state of affairs in the NHL, though.

Chances are, if you’re a fan of the series, you’re getting the game, but if you’re on the fence, here is some gameplay video below. Let’s hope the owners and players wake up and stop talking lockout in the meantime. NHL 13 is in stores September 11th.