Don't have a scanner here at the house so I will type the breakdown
(X) denotes Gamepro winner
Authenticity
NHL 2005 - The expected action packed arcade style feel
(x) ESPN 2K5 - More realistic and true to the sport but harder
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Unknown
Career Mode
NHL 2005 - RPG-like "video game" approach.
(x) ESPN 2K5 - "Fantasy Hockey" feel to building roster and staff
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Details under wraps: broad picture is promising
Fighting
(x) NHL 2005 - No meters: can opt in: great feel
ESPN 2K5 - Great new design with tight new controls
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Unknown
Online
NHL 2005 - Tourneys and head-to-head only
(x) ESPN 2K5 - Clear winner - usuals plus leagues and even Party Mode
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Tourneys and head-to-head only
Arcade Mode
NHL 2005 - Free4All mode lacks creativity
(x) ESPN 2K5 - Party mode mini games absolutely rock
NHL Faceoff 2005 - None revealed
Skating/Control
NHL 2005 - Needs tuning - spastic, jerky feel
(x) ESPN 2K5 - Butter-smooth and natural: handles instinctively
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Not playable yet, but 989 plans cool shot-aiming controls
Checking
NHL 2005 - Difficult to line up and connect - needs tuning
(x) ESPN 2K5 - Wins by a hair - hits connect easily but lack bonecrunching feel
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Sounds good on paper - 989 promises you'll feel the "weight" of checks
Graphics
(x) NHL 2005 - Unbeatably georgeous arenas, scary-real player faces and movements
ESPN 2K5 - Respectable but lacks wow power
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Screen shots look awsome but how real are they?
Commentary
NHL 2005 - Same tired, no-name duo in the booth - EA needs to hire some pros
(x) ESPN 2K5 - Gary Thorne and Bill Clement - hard to top the voices of hockey
NHL Faceoff 2005 - Mike Emrick and Darren Pang - should be solid if you can tollerate the panger.
That was the scouting report, they had two pages of info but I was not going to type all that.
Plus it is Gamepro... Just bored at the computer waiting for some software to compile.