NHL 25 Controls Guide – Master the Offense and Defense Controls
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.
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.
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 | ◻ |
| Lacross | Y | △ |
| 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 ◻ |
| Backhand Toe Drag Flip | Hold X + Press RB | Hold ◻ + Press R1 |
| Backhand Toe Drag Shot | Hold X then Release | Hold ◻ then Release |
| Backhand Toe Drag Fake | Press Y + Press LB | Press △ + 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 △ then Release |
| Lacrosse Flip Pass | Hold Y then Press RB | Hold △ then Press R1 |
| Lacrosse Fake | Press Y + Press LB | Press △ + 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.
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 ▲ |
| 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 ▲ |
| Quick Plays | Directional Pad | Directional Pad |
| Slash | LT + Y | L1 + ▲ |
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.
| 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 ■ and move Left Stick to the left or right |
| Diving Poke Check | Press X and move Left Stick up | Press ■ 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 ▲ |
| 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.
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 ▲ |
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.
