How to Win Faceoffs in NHL 25

You'll have plenty of opportunities to get the puck in NHL 25, but faceoffs might be the most important opportunity of them all. Whether it's the initial drop of the puck to begin the game or a reset anywhere on the ice during a game, failing to win faceoffs can become extremely frustrating. Having high ratings helps, but you'll also need to learn exactly how to win faceoffs in NHL 25.

How to Win Faceoffs in NHL 25

With faceoffs creating critical chances to secure possession of the puck, feeling like you can never win them is going to make any game become a grind. There's a possibility you're up against a center that's just too skilled, but learning all the NHL 25 controls for faceoffs is going to massively boost your chances of winning them.

When a faceoff is coming, wait for your player to be set with their stick on the ice and then move the Right Stick to choose a grip. You'll need to move the Right Stick to the Left or Right before the puck is dropped, and this will select either a Backhand Grip or Forehand Grip. The direction that applies to each is dependent on whether you're using a left-handed or right-handed player. Don't wait too long after the player is set, as a late grip won't register entirely and you'll likely lose that faceoff.

Once you've chosen a grip, wait for the exact moment the referee drops the puck to move the Right Stick down to win the faceoff and get the puck to a teammate. If your timing is right in line with your opponent's, the next factor will likely be ratings and the player with the higher faceoff rating will probably take the win. If your faceoff ratings are nearly identical, similar timing could simply lead to a toss-up where a bit of luck determines who gets the puck. That's part of why boosting faceoff ratings is a very important first step in Be A Pro if you're playing at center.

The backhand grip is usually more effective, but you can also try doing tie-ups by moving the Left Stick up (in addition to the backhand grip) to see if that gives your player the edge. If all of that is still leaving you without the puck, try using Stick Lift by moving the Right Stick up while using a backhand grip. It'll take some practice to really nail the timing, but you should have the puck far more often now that you know how to win faceoffs in NHL 25.