NHL 25 Controls Guide - Master the Offense and Defense Controls

NHL 25 Game Screenshot

NHL 25 Game Screenshot

NHL 25 is here and players can finally try out the new entry in the NHL franchise, which introduced some exciting changes. But before entering the rink, players must have a good understanding of the NHL 25 controls, or they might find themselves at a huge disadvantage.

Mastering the NHL 25 controls can take some time, but it will give players an advantage over opponents, and help them dominate the ice on online and offline game modes.

Without further ado, let's find out how to master the NHL 25 controls.

NHL 25 Controls Guide

There are two types of controls in NHL 25, Total and Skill Stick controls, and they are incredibly different.

Total controls allow players to perform some of the hardest skill moves in the game with the simple press of a button. Skill Stick controls give users more control over their player's actions, but skill moves, and other actions, are way harder to perform and master.

NHL 25 Gameplay Footage
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The Total controls are recommended for players who are new to the NHL franchise, while the Skill Stick controls are perfect for franchise veterans, who have already mastered the ins and outs of the controls.

Just like its predecessor, NHL 25 has offense, defense, goalie, and fighting controls. All of them are important to know, but the offense and defense controls are slightly more important, as they are the ones players will be using most of the time.

Some of these controls are very straightforward, and even new players will have an easy time getting used to them. However, many are quite complex, especially for players who use the Skill Stick controls, and will probably require a little bit more time to master.

So let's find out everything about the NHL 25 controls, starting with the offense controls.

NHL 25 Offense Controls

Defense might win champions, but it's impossible to have success in NHL 25 without mastering the offense controls, and becoming an expert at placing the puck in the back of the net.

NHL 25 Offense Controls
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Here are all the NHL 25 offense controls:

Command
Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS5 Controls
Vision Control
LT
L2
Deke/Deke Modifier
Hold LB
Hold L1
Forecheck
D-Pad Up
D-Pad Up
Breakout
D-Pad Down
D-Pad Down
Off. Line Change
D-Pad Right
D-Pad Right
Def. Line Change
D-Pad Left
D-Pad Left
Skate
Left Stick
Left Stick
Hustle
L3
L3
Pass
Press RT
Press R2
Cancel Pass
While holding RT press RB+LB
While holding R2 press R1+L1
Icon Passing
Hold RT
Hold R2
Saucer Pass
RB
R1
Desperation Pass
Double tap RT
Double tap R2
Toe Drag
X
â—»
Lacross
Y
â–³
Between Legs
B
O
Reverse Hit
A
X
Shoot
Right Stick
Right Stick
Deke
Right Stick
Right Stick
Slap Shot
Move Right Stick down and then up
Move Right Stick down and then up
Wrist Shot
Right Stick down and then Roll Up
Right Stick down and then Roll Up
Desperation Shot
Right Stick double tap up
Right Stick double tap up
Fake Shot
Press R3
Press R3
Protect Puck
Left Stick + Right Stick
Left Stick + Right Stick
Glide
Release Left Stick
Release Left Stick
Quick Deke
LB
L1
Windmill Deke
LB and move Move Right Stick left and then rigth
LB and move Move Right Stick left and then rigth
Spin
LT
L2
Reverse Hit/Brace
Press A while in a glide
Press X while in a glide
Dump Puck
RB and Move Right Stick Up
R1 and Move Right Stick Up
Win Faceoff
Move Right Stick
Move Right Stick
Chop Puck
Press Right Stick and then move Right Stick
Press Right Stick and then move Right Stick
Backhand Toe Drag
Press X
Press â—»
Backhand Toe Drag Flip
Hold X + Press RB
Hold â—» + Press R1
Backhand Toe Drag Shot
Hold X then Release
Hold â—» then Release
Backhand Toe Drag Fake
Press Y + Press LB
Press â–³ + Press L1
Between-the-Legs Saucer Pass
Hold B + Press RB
Hold O + Press R1
Between-the-Legs Pass
Hold B + Press RT
Hold O + Press R2
Between-the-Legs Shot
Hold B then Release
Hold O then Release
Slip Deke
Press LB when near boards
Press L1 when near boards
Board-bank Self-pass
Press LB and RT while near boards
Press L1 and R2 while near boards
Behind-the-Net Self-pass
Press LB and RT while behind net
Press L1 and R2 while behind net
Drop Pass
Press RB while not moving the Left Stick
Press R1 while not moving the Left Stick
Stride Deke
Press LB and move Left Stick to the left or right
Press L1 and move Left Stick to the left or right
Backhand Flip Deke
Press LB, and press RT
Press L1, and press R1
Forehand Flip Deke
Press LB, and press RT
Press L1, and press R1
Lacrosse Deke
Hold Y then Release
Hold â–³ then Release
Lacrosse Flip Pass
Hold Y then Press RB
Hold â–³ then Press R1
Lacrosse Fake
Press Y + Press LB
Press â–³ + Press L1
Backhand Tap Back Deke
Move Right Stick to the right, press LB, move Right Stick to the left, move Left Stick to the Right, move Right Stick to the Right
Move Right Stick to the right, press L1, move Right Stick to the left, move Left Stick to the Right, move Right Stick to the Right
Forehand Tap Back Deke
Move Right Stick diagonally down to the bottom left and around to the bottom right, press LB, move Right Stick to the right, move Left Stick to the left, move Right Stick to the left
Move Right Stick diagonally down to the bottom left and around to the bottom right, press L1, move Right Stick to the right, move Left Stick to the left, move Right Stick to the left
Jump Deke
Press LB and move Right Stick up
Press L1 and move Right Stick up
Skate Kick Deke
Press LB and move Right Stick down
Press L1 and move Right Stick down
Through The Legs Deke
Press LB and move Right Stick diagonally down to the bottom left then around to the bottom right
Press L1 and move Right Stick diagonally down to the bottom left then around to the bottom right
Cancel Deke
Press LB
Press L1

NHL 25 Defense Controls

Mastering the defense controls will make it much easier to win games in NHL 25. A good defense is the foundation of a championship team, and that also applies in NHL 25.

NHL 25 Defense Controls
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Becoming a great defender will give players a huge advantage over opponents, and in many cases, defense is the best attack. Mastering some of these controls might be tricky, and take some time, but it's well worth it.

Command
Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS5 Controls
Skate
Move Left Stick
Move Left Stick
Switch Player
Press RT
Press R2
Manual Switch Player
Hold RT and move Right Stick
Hold R2 and move Right Stick
Hustle
Press Left Stick
Press Left Stick
Glide
Rlease Left Stick
Rlease Left Stick
Vision Control
Hold LT
Hold L2
Cancel Manual Switch Player
Hold RT and press LB
Hold R2 and press L1
Manual Switch Player (Last Man back)
Hold RT and press Right Stick
Hold R2 and press Right Stick
Desperation Clear
Double Tap Right Stick Up
Double Tap Right Stick Up
Push Check
Move Right Stick
Move Right Stick
Shoulder Check
Move Right Stick up and Down
Move Right Stick up and Down
Hip Check
Press Right Stick and press LB
Press Right Stick and press L1
Poke Check
Press RB
Press R1
Sweep Stick
Hold RB and move Right Stick
Hold R1 and move Right Stick
Chop Puck
Press Right Stick and move Right Stick
Press Right Stick and move Right Stick
Desparation Clear
Right Stick Up (Double Tap)
Right Stick Up (Double Tap)
Board Pin
Hold Y
Hold â–²
Pass Block + Sweep Stick
Press LB and move Right Stick to left or right
Press L1 and move Right Stick to left or right
Stick Lift
Press A
Press X
Tie Up Stick
Hold A
Hold X
Block Pass
Press LB
Press L1
Dive / Block
Press LB and press RB
Press L1 and press R1
Initiate Net Battle
Hold Y
Hold â–²
Quick Plays
Directional Pad
Directional Pad
Slash
LT + Y
L1 + â–²

NHL 25 Goalie Controls

A big part of having a solid defense is understanding the goalie controls, as they are fundamental to preventing the puck from hitting the net and making some fantastic saves in the process.

NHL 25 Goalie Controls
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Command
Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS5 Controls
Pull/Replace Goalie
Press LB and press the Back button
Press L1 and press the Back button
Challenge
Press Left Stick or Press LB
Press L3 or Press L1
Toggle Manual Goalie
Press LB and press A
Press L1 and press A
Move Goalie
Move Left Stick
Move Left Stick
Hustle
Press Left Stick
Press Left Stick
Butterfly
Hold RT
Hold R2
Hug Post Left
Press LB and move Left Stick to the left
Press L1 and move Left Stick to the left
Hug Post Right
Press LB and move Left Stick to the right
Press LB and move Left Stick to the right
Hug Post (VH)
Press LB, move Left Stick to the left or right, and press RT
Press L1, move Left Stick to the left or right, and press R2
Instinct
Hold LT
Hold L2
Leave Puck for Teammate
Press LT
Press L2
Diving Save
Press X and move Left Stick to the left or right
Press â–  and move Left Stick to the left or right
Diving Poke Check
Press X and move Left Stick up
Press â–  and move Left Stick up
Spread V
Move Right Stick away from Puck
Move Right Stick away from Puck
Stack Pads
Press B and move Left Stick to the left or right
Press O and move Left Stick to the left or right
Butterfly Slides
Move Right Stick lateral to Puck
Move Right Stick lateral to Puck
Poke Check
Move Right Stick up
Move Right Stick up
Cover Puck
Hold Y
Hold â–²
Free Skate
Press A
Press X
Dump Puck
Move Right Stick up
Move Right Stick up
Pass Puck
Press RT
Press R2

NHL 25 Fighting Controls

Ice hockey is a very physical sport, and that physicality can sometimes escalate into a fight. That also happens in NHL 25, and it's one of the things that makes the game more immersive.

NHL 25 Fighting Controls
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These controls are nowhere near as important as the defense, offense, or goalie controls. However, no one likes to lose a fight, so having a good understanding of these controls is great to have.

Command
Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS5 Controls
Grab
Hold LT
Hold L2
Fake Grab
Press LT
Press L2
Overhand Punch
Move Right Stick up
Move Right Stick up
Uppercut
Move Right Stick down
Move Right Stick down
Push
Move Left Stick up
Move Left Stick up
Pull
Move Left Stick down
Move Left Stick down
Block/Lean Back
Hold RT
Hold R2
Dodge
Press RT
Press R2
Initiate/Accept Fight
Double Tap Y
Double Tap â–²

These are all the controls players need to master if they want to dominate the ice in NHL 25.

While some of them can prove quite difficult to learn, especially for new players, it's very important to master them, as it will give users an advantage over opponents, and significantly increase their chances of winning games.

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