Defense: I've read all your posts, and my defense has improved, but I've found that if I control any player other than the people at the net when in my D-zone, say to go after the puck, my men at the net will leave someone hopelessly unmarked. This means I end up with long periods of pressure, because I can't leave my defenders to do their job, without taking huge risks...

Matt: That is a problem. I got two options for you (and none of them is 100 % secure).
1) Try using Tight Point strategy (this will make your all your CPU controlled players more aggressive) and perhaps even Puck side or High Pressure. Then take control of a D and play the passing lanes in the slot. Since your CPU-controlled players will (should at least) charge their man, you need to fend the slot (cause the CPU will overcheck from time to time).
2) Use a Winger to put pressure on the opponent when he got the puck at the point and change to controlling a D when the puck is by the boards. Changing player a lot can get messy though (when you don't get to controll the player you want to controll).

I generally allow my opponents some puck controll in my zone. I usually play the collapssing strategy and then I try to cut of passing lanes in the slot and by the boards, trying to force my opponent making a bad pass or take a shot from the point that I can block. You will loose pressure, especially at the points and half boards if you collapse but you won't give away quality scoring chances in the slot or let any (hopefully)cross-crease passes through.
And one more thing. Since your CPU-controlled players kind of sucks... when you put pressure on your opponent, leaving your CPU-players to defend the slot, attack him from the inside. With the inside I mean from the centre - allwoing him to move towards the half boards, boards or to the back of the net, but not towards goal. You should allways try to be positioned between the puck and your own goal.

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