A new year, a new NHL franchise game; sounds very "Ho Hum," doesn't it? Don't be deceived; while every sports game these days feels like an updated re-skin, NHL 21 has changed in subtle ways. Under-the-radar changes make a mountain of a difference. Moves that perform one-third of a second faster or slower drastically increase the advantage or disadvantage. New players, in this regard, have an edge over veterans of the NHL series.

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Experts have a bad way of falling into their old habits; they want to do what worked well in the last game. The developers at EA take feedback and bring such mechanics back down to earth, allowing other moves to shine. A combination of pro players and mathematic whizzes have joined forces and discovered new playstyles that anybody can learn to maximize victory probability.

10 More Than One Way To Train

NHL 21 Dunk Behind The Net Shot

Fans of other sports games that pick up NHL 21 are in for a painful surprise. This game might share the same developer as FIFA 21, but it is nowhere close to the same experience. Doing the right thing is less like dribbling a ball and more like executing combos with the best fighters in Mortal Kombat 11.

Much like that game, button-mashing randomly only works on easy settings. So learn the combinations in practice mode. After that, try them out in an offline game and see how they work; different moves look good in a drill but then work better (or worse) in reality.

9 Pressure Passing

NHL 21 Check Along The Boards

Remember the feeling of holding a Game Boy for hours on end to try and beat that extra-long game before the batteries die out. This is an accurate comparison of what the hockey players are going through while passing in NHL 21.

When passing, move slowly. Make the defensive players speed up to close the distance and then pass again. Pro players look like gigantic trolls at first, sometimes passing for the entire first two periods. What they are actually doing is boring and brilliant; by making the defense burst to close gaps, they are losing their stamina. This means an easy third period win against a tired opponent.

8 Deke Against Goalies

NHL 21 Michigan Lacrosse Deke

A sure sign of an amateur player is that they max out their ability to shoot the puck hard. This will work against low-ranked goalies from time to time, but even the fieriest fastball isn't getting past the glove of a decent goalie.

What does work is deking. Human opponents that choose to control the goalie can sometimes minimize this, but even they fall for it just enough for a high-percentage look (and most players, even good ones, never play as the goalie). It's like learning to pump fake as a beginner in NBA 2K20; shot percentage dramatically goes through the roof.

7 No Hero Defense

NHL 21 Goalie Diving Leg Save

Knowing how badly passing can decimate a defense's stamina is great for offense but worrisome for defense. Nobody minds a pleasantly short Xbox game, but only when victory is satisfying; ending the game due to being energy-depleted is a 60-minute bummer.

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Counter it by not making any sudden moves unless the opponent attempts an easily picked off pass. Doing this not only negates the stamina-drain tactic, it increases the likelihood of the opposing player making an ill-advised pass and handing over a free breakaway.

6 Changes From NHL 20

NHL 21 Slapshot Past Defenseman

As any pro of Apex Legends would suggest, staying up to date on the latest patch is critical to winning the game. NHL 20 was a great game, but it is the old game. EA has ironed out several bugs that used to be regularly exploited.

Specifically, the offense no longer bugs out by being in certain positions on defense. They maintain their patterns when pushing ahead. That's not necessarily bad news for the defense, the offense arrives faster, absolutely, but they are less erratic. Watch and observe the lanes offensive players fill in the new NHL 21.

5 One-Time Perfection

NHL 21 Devils Player Follow Through

The best players in FIFA 21 are enough to win most games with some basic understanding of the controls. NHL 21 eats whales for breakfast; no amount of purchasing power will ever compensate for bad timing.

One-time shots are the most successful shots in the game when executed correctly. The trick is to know the team. Players pass at different speeds. After observing those speeds, practice shooting with different players; each one has a different animation and strength based on their programming and statistics. It's a long process to master, but it pays off in wins.

4 Know The Players

NHL 21 Pre Puck Drop Positions

There is no fault accredited to a gamer that fails to recognize the similarity between NHL 21 and a fantastic multiplayer RPG, but they share a very important feature: Abilities are not unlimited, they are based on the controlled entity's stats and skills.

Whether building a team in HUT, making a customized player for an NHL team, or directing the fate of a franchise, the entire cast of players will have strengths and weaknesses. So will the other side's lineup. Some 78 ranked players routinely beat 95 ranked players at basic skills, so read each card in-depth, the studying will pay off.

3 Faultless Fighting

NHL 21 Bruins Rangers Fight

When to start a fight will be covered in the next section, but pro players have a distinct knowledge advantage over newbies on how to start a fight. It's a trick that works effectively and drives gamers of every skill level bonkers.

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Starting a fight with an illegal check badly penalizes the team and there is a much better way. When possessing the puck but needing some stamina, intentionally go offsides. The whistle will blow the play dead, but don't put down the controller. Pass the puck to the best fighter on the team and disrespectfully shoot it at the goalie. A fight will break out at no significant cost to the player's team.

2 Who To Fight With

NHL 21 Red Wings Penguins Fight

There are many factors to consider when initiating a fight. The first is timing; most players are aware that winning a fight refills stamina, but they mistakenly start a brawl with one of the players who need stamina. Fight longevity requires good stamina. Do a quick line change, get a fresh combatant in there, and start the fight when the opponent's players are drained.

The next factor to consider who is not just a good fighter, but is expendable. Choose a low-value player with a high-ranking fight statistic. Calgary's Milana Lucic, for example, is the best fighter in the game with a score of 92.67, but his overall rating is a dismal 78. Identify these players on the team and get them ready to duke it out.

1 Choose The Right Mode

NHL 21 Stanley Cup Pose With Fictional Team

Viewers will notice as they watch their favorite NHL 21 gamer's live stream that they frequently play different modes. The audience appreciates how dynamic an otherwise linear game can be, of course, but there is a method to the madness.

Pros experiment to find their best modes. Some prefer to get comfortable with the players on a certain team and master that for a franchise game. Others make a player that fits perfectly with an existing NHL franchise and they practice playing with them. A third group will customize a team with HUT that suits their skills. Even pro players aren't the best at every aspect; they find the right mode for them and excel at it.

NEXT: Ranked: The 10 Best Old School Hockey Games Ever Made