Hockey fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of NHL 22, and the game does not disappoint. Built with the all-new Frostbite engine, NHL 22 delivers the best visual and tactical sports gameplay on ice. People who have just picked up the title can expect a ton of cool features to enhance their gaming experience.
Gamers can take part in the league’s biggest arenas and compete with world-class pro-gamers in NHL 22. Push and pull the puck on ice to control the game, and seize the moment by scoring a goal using X Factors to make it to the highlight reel. Here’s a rundown of basic NHL 22 tips and tricks that can help players win more games.
Updated February 25, 2022 by Chetan Shekar: NHL 22 offers people a true-to-life ice hockey experience. Players can skate at extremely high speeds and perform stunts to derail their opponents and win games to earn glory. Slam the puck with simple moves and shoot it across the ice to score goals with satisfaction.
The sports game has surreal stick physics implemented into the game that allows fluid movement of the puck as players battle for its position. The realistic gameplay lets players be aggressive on the ice and rally their team to build a reputation online. Take a look at these additional tips in NHL 22 to gain an advantage in the highly competitive game.
14 Watch Episodes Of Breaking Ice
Breaking Ice is a series presented by UNINTERRUPTED Canada and EA Sports. The exciting series interviews passionate players from NHL and give players a closer look at what it means to love the game.
Each episode encapsulates the personal journey players had to go through to become better at their sport. It’ll give new players a feel for the game and provide insights for building their dream team. Players featured in the Breaking Ice series include Luke Prokop, Saroya Tinker, and Ethan Bear as they unveil their biggest motivations and their greatest achievements.
13 Demoralize Opponents
NHL is a tough game with harsh moves and brutal takedowns. Players are huge and fast at snatching the puck as they skate across the ice. The players in the game won’t miss their chance at taking the puck away and it only takes a few seconds to be outplayed in the sport. Taunting opponents with sleek moves and quick passes can help the team take control.
The 3D graphics of NHL 22 provides vivid details that are projected onto players in real-time. Viewing the facial expressions and body language of players in NHL 22 can be spectacular on the big screen. Seize the dynamic movements and rapid animations to slip past the defense line and score memorable goals. Charging at opponents can demoralize them and keep them from attacking players on the ice.
12 Level Up Key Players
Apart from winning games, setting up a stellar team and leveling up individual players is an important tip in NHL 22. Having a balanced team with the right forwards, defense, and goaltenders can prove to be a distinguishable factor in owning a dream team.
Upgrading team members from Tier 1 to Tier 2 can take as little as 500 coins. Leveling up players will increase their overall abilities and improve their stats in the game. Skating, Shooting, Hands, Checking, and Defense stats can go up by 2 to 3 points per tier. The nominees and winners from the Team of the Year awards will give players a good indication of the players to level up first.
11 Show Sportsmanship In Every Game
NHL 22 has a thriving community of fans from all over the world. Treating other players and teams with respect is greatly appreciated by the community. EA is committed to growing a healthy community online for NHL 22 and rewards players for playing fair.
Don’t hesitate from helping players new to the game in online tournaments. They’ll remember the love in their early experience with NHL 22 and eventually become an integral part of a support system. Obviously, lewd words and swearing during online games can disrupt the experience for the online community.
10 Avoid Penalties While Skating
Skating is tremendously smooth in NHL 22. Build momentum on ice by skating with the puck at high speeds. Players with high stats on agility and acceleration can move from defense to offense within seconds.
The ice surface can make it hard to avoid penalties while taking sharp corners, since skating forward is as easy as skating backward in NHL 22. Beginners should watch out for blocks and hip checks while gliding through opponents to score a goal. Superstars with Elite Edges ability can change direction anywhere without losing grip over the puck.
9 Make Short Passes Often
Passing is a basic move that can keep the puck in possession and maximize the strikes within the shooting range. In NHL 22, the slightest touch can be more effective in making a successful pass than inching closer to the maximum power on each pass.
The X Factor ability "Tape to Tape: enables players to do an auto-saucer pass with increased power and accuracy. Athletes such as Adam Fox and Mikko Rantanen can use the Tape to Tape ability to slip the puck past defenders in a tight situation.
8 Earn Coins For The Auction Market
Players can earn coins, the in-game currency, in a variety of ways. These include offline challenges, participating in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) Rivals and trading players for profit in the Auction Market. Depending on goals scored, winning online games such as HUT Rivals and HUT Champions will provide a hefty sum.
Completing daily and weekly objectives is another great way of earning coins. These offline challenges can include scoring five goals for 200 coins, completing seventy-five passes for seven hundred and fifty coins, and completing 150 objectives for five thousand coins. Gamers can purchase NHL players from the Auction Market to build a formidable HUT with the coins earned.
7 Try Different Controller Combinations
The controls in NHL 22 can make a huge difference to the actual gameplay. The game offers three controller combinations that can drastically change the way offense, defense, and Deke techniques are used on PS4, PS5, and Xbox. Players new to the game can start with the NHL 94 controller settings. These controls place the shoot and pass buttons close to each other to improve basic gameplay. Switching players and performing a hip check is also easier with the NHL 94 controller.
Once players have a good grip on the puck, try the Hybrid controller. This focuses on clubbing the wrist shot, slap shot, and pass buttons together. Advanced players can try the NHL Skill Stick controller to maneuver the puck with more accuracy on the ice.
6 Dominate Games With Dekes
Tricking opponents while holding the puck is an essential skill needed to win games. NHL 22 has loads of Deke moves: tricks that can be performed by holding down two to three buttons at a time. Deke moves such as One-Hand Deke, One-Handed Tuck, Jump Deke, and the Between the Legs Shot can come in handy while scoring a goal. Beginners can master the Backhand Tuck and Forehand Tuck before moving on to more precise shots.
Perfecting Deke moves can help people baffle the goaltender and dominate the game. Toe Drags, Toe Drag Shots, and Datsyuk Shot can be slightly harder to pull off but will give players a definitive advantage on the ice when competing in online games.
5 Simplify The Franchise Mode
The Franchise mode in NHL 22 lets gamers build their own team. There are tons of customizable options in the Franchise mode, and going through all of them can sometimes feel like too much to take in for new players. For example, enabling the Owner mode gives players control over the budget they spend, the revenue they make, and the relocation of the franchise.
Although these controls can be fun to play with, they can complicate the game for beginners and tend to mismanage the franchise. Turning the Owner mode off can help players progress faster. Meanwhile, toggling the Player Morale mode on can lead to a stronger team and better chemistry with every win.
4 Counter Opponents During Face-Offs
Face-offs occur multiple times during an NHL game and are an excellent way to win back possession of the puck. They can take place at the start of a match or period, when a player passes the puck past offside, when the referee calls for icing after a goal has been scored, or when a player is injured.
In NHL 22, players can choose from a set of moves to win Face-offs. People can either do a Forehand, Forehand Stick Lift, Backhand, Backhand Stick Lift, Tie-up, or a Deke. In most cases, a Backhand will win a Face-off over a Forehand. Similarly, a Forehand Tie-up will likely win the puck over a Backhand Stick Lift. Figure out opponents and counter their moves as soon as the puck is dropped on the ice.
3 Customize Team Strategies
NHL 22 has a bunch of customizable settings under team strategies that can turn the game around. Beginners having a tough time with their teams can try changing these values to improve their gameplay.
Teams with a roaster of strong shooters can opt for Full Attack as their Offensive Pressure. Meanwhile, teams with durable defenders can opt for Contain Puck as their Defensive Pressure to position them between the puck and the net. Players can also change the Offensive Line and Defensive Pairing settings to find the play style that suits them best.
2 Nowhere Near The Nets
Keep the forwards out of the nets by being a pro goaltender. If opponents cross the blue line at the center, watch the puck in between the passes and prepare the goalie to be on guard. NHL 22 has a single touch button that repositions the camera angle to give goalies a better chance at preventing the puck from reaching into the nets — utilize this mechanic.
Goalies can paddle down, hug the post from left to right, and even do a dive to make a successful save. NHL superstars with the All or Nothing X Factory ability are the best options for goaltending. They are granted a high success rate for goal saves and have increased range, accuracy, and recovery for poke checks near the nets.
1 Unlock X Factor Abilities
X Factor abilities have been introduced to every mode in NHL 22, including Franchise, Ultimate Team, and World of Chel. Players can unlock X Factor abilities as they progress in the Be A Pro mode. Building a team with athletes that complement each other’s X Factor abilities can boost team spirit and make it easier to climb the ladder.
X Factor abilities include:
Skating
- Wheels: Evade penalties when skating with the puck.
- Ankle Breaker: Deke opponents at top speeds.
Shooting
- Make It Snappy: Increased power and accuracy when taking shots.
- Heatseeker: Increased power and accuracy on the wrist and slap shots, even from a distance.
Passing
- Magnetic: Pass the puck at high speeds and intercept passes easily.
- Third Eye: Make impossible passes to teammates outside the field of vision.
Defending
- Yoink!: Higher stick lift success rate to intercept passes.
- Stick ‘Em Up: Break opponent’s momentum with increased Defensive Skill Stick success rate.
Goaltending
- Dialed In: Boost goalie reaction time, recovery, and save ability after fifteen goal saves.
- Post to Post: Improved reaction time and recovery when going post to post.
NHL 22 is available to play on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.