Play Espn National Hockey Night Online

ESPN National Hockey Night came out for the Sega Genesis in 1994, published by Sony Imagesoft. It was part of that wave of mid-90s sports titles competing directly with EA's offerings. The presentation felt straightforward, with the ESPN branding giving it a broadcast feel that was becoming more common then.

You control a five man unit on the ice, cycling through players to chase the puck and set up plays. The main goal is to outscore your opponent, of course. The game uses a three button control scheme for passing, shooting, and checking. A notable feature is the one timer; you can fire a quick slap shot directly off a pass if you time it right. Body checking is a central part of the defense, letting you slam opponents into the boards to separate them from the puck. The pacing is fast, with the action moving quickly from one end of the rink to the other, and the difficulty can be punishing if you are not careful with your positioning. It feels responsive and physical when you connect with a solid check or snap a shot into the top corner.