Sports rivalries are the stuff of legend; those between NHL hockey franchises, even more so: Flames versus Oilers, Islanders versus Rangers, Blackhawks versus Red Wings, everyone versus the Maple Leafs.

The same is true of NHL video games. Once, Electronic Arts was the comfortable veteran while 2K Sports was the eager rookie. In recent years, though, 2K has been winning the contests. An embarrassed EA—this is the company that established the market for modern-day sports video-gaming—got into the gym during the latest off-season to make some improvements that have it back in the game. Now, with the various next-gen consoles finally available to consumers, the rivalry between EA and 2K has heated up with the publishers’ respective NHL 07 and NHL 2K7 (both rated 10 plus).

A lesser-known rivalry exists between my brother, Ben, and myself, so when I decided to pit the two NHL video games against each other, my choice of opponent was obvious.

When Ben read his fortune from the cookie that came with our dinner, I should have known things would go badly for me. “You will be a contest winner,” the slip of paper told him. In a trial between only two competitors, it stood to reason that I’d be on the losing end.

Ben selected the Canucks, I decided on the San Jose Sharks, and we proceeded to play two best-of-three series, one with NHL 07 and the other with NHL 2K7. The games are available on multiple platforms (NHL 07: PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, X360; NHL 2K7: PS2, PS3, Xbox, X360), but we played on the Xbox 360.

Both games look great. The NHL and international rosters are based on actual players, but EA scored the first goal in this competition with its player representations. Joe Thornton really looks like Joe Thornton. EA’s player modelling is unequalled.

In both games you can play in any number of actual arenas and watch the ice degrade during periods, to the point where you can see the blade cuts in the surface, but 2K7 evened the score in our little competition because its game has a haze of mist floating above the ice and an audio echo that sells the simulation.

Both games provide the opportunity to create your own team with your favourite players, which you can then guide through multiple seasons, and the on-line capabilities of the games on compatible systems mean you can play against your rivals, whether you are in the same room or not. Coming out of this category, the games were still tied.

Innovation is critical for the marketing of sports games. (Otherwise, why would people pick up a new version of the same game every year?) NHL 2K7’s big new feature this year is called Cinemotion. It replaces the usual play-by-play with a movielike soundtrack that crescendoes and diminuendos with the momentum of the game. It’s a feature that will appeal more to new players than long-time hockey fans, but because 2K also added drop-pass and shadow-player functions to its game play, it got a goal and took the lead, 2–1.

EA, on the other hand, has cleverly reimagined the control of video-game hockey players. In NHL 07, you use the left thumb stick to control the movement of your player, as usual, but the right thumb stick is how you control the stick. The “skill stick” seems like a simple enhancement—and it is—but it changes the feel of the game. There’s a steep learning curve to get used to how to use the skill stick and there’ll be some frustration to overcome, but EA scores big with this feature.

At the end of the game, the score was tied, 2–2. Time for a shootout.

In the game of hockey, commentators and fans always talk of “the intangibles”, those characteristics of a team that cannot be quantified. Chemistry between the players, a streaking rookie, and a slumping goaltender can’t be explained, but any of them can make the difference in a game. 2K Sports wins the shootout because when you pick up the controller and start playing NHL 2K7, it feels better. I can’t explain why. It just does.

So in the battle between the two NHL video games, NHL 2K7 edged out NHL 07, but it was closer than a game between these two rivals has been for some time.

As for the tournament with my brother, I lost every game. Time for me to get some practice in.