"Let's play hackey!" The 2006-2007 NHL season is underway, and you know what that means; flying pucks, checks into the walls and the kind of intense play that the real life sport is known for. Gone are the harrowing memories of the strike that wiped out an entire season, replaced by the powerful, fast sport that most of us know and love. This year has seen some fine virtual representations of the sport on video game consoles, between EA's NHL 07 and 2K Sports' NHL 2K7. When it came to the PlayStation 3, however, only one champion seems to have risen, and that's 2K Sports. No one really knows why EA Sports decided to take a year off. They've got a lot of work ahead of them though, as NHL 2K7 is a dominant force in next-generation hockey.

Compared to its predecessors, NHL 2K7 doesn't contain many changes, but that's not bad. This game runs the table with a prime list of gameplay features, ranging from icon passing (being able to pass to any given player on your team at any time) to on-the-fly coaching (changing up plays while on ice) to superb crease control and enforcer options that put the player in control of their team. The shoulder buttons are also quite helpful, with L1 putting pressure on an opponent and R1 allowing a puck dump so that a player can pick it up and go for the quick shot on goal.

The PS3 version also contains some SIXAXIS support, though only a few hardcore hockey fans are going to use it. Players can physically initiate their checks on opponents by thrusting their controller forward. It's a little silly, and someone can get hurt if they walk in front of the TV at the wrong time, but at least it's a change for the better and not just a gimmick.

SIXAXIS works best with goalie controls. There are moments where players can choose to manually take the helm of the goalie and, by moving the controller around, can make key plays. Sometimes it results in a score, and sometimes the save comes off just right. Again, not everyone will use it, but at least it's set up very well, complete with on-screen icons to give you an idea of the goalie's protective range.

NHL 2K7's graphics look undeniably next generation. Players look fantastic, with only an occasional missing animation coming up to mar their performance. The arenas look like the real deal, right down to the individual scoreboards and a crowd that gets into the game. (About time, too -- nothing ruins a sports game like a crowd that can't get into the action.) The cinema sequences aren't bad, although the detail isn't as extreme as it is in NBA 2K7. The menus are easy to follow, and the numerous camera options will please fans. The "follow" camera is the best bet, as it keeps up with the game and never misses a beat.