Whereas EA Canada's NHL 09, released in September, provided a more realistic simulation of the brutal on-ice antics, NHL Arcade is said to pack "fast paced action, crushing hits and loads of room to experiment." Oh, and there will be power-ups.

"Serious is not the name of this game," explained EA. "Deliver devastating checks that send your opponent over the boards and watch as he has to skate back onto the ice. If the goalie comes out of his crease to play the puck, check him...Fly down the ice with a super-speed skater, and beat a giant sprawling goalie with a trick move."

Online multiplayer will allow for up to three players on the same console to face off against another team, with ranked matches available as well.

Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the downloadable game will pack 40 top NHL stars and two control schemes--NHL 09's Skill Stick controls and a simpler setup for less-advanced players--when it hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in February.