Overview
New to EA SPORTS NHL® 26? This guide covers which beginner-friendly modes like Free Skate and Play Now to tackle first, learning the basics of the game, building core skills, and more.
Start with beginner-friendly modes
If you’re new to NHL 26, start with some beginner-friendly modes that help you focus on learning, not winning.These modes are great for getting a feel for the game, building confidence, and practicing key skills in a low-pressure setting.- A practice mode without opponents or time limits, where you play 1v1 against the goalie.
- Work on skating, puck control, shooting, and passing at your own pace.
- Ideal for getting comfortable with controls, testing new moves, and building core skills before trying other modes.
- An offline mode where you can jump right into a game against AI with your choice of teams and settings.
- Lower the difficulty to make AI opponents slower and less aggressive, giving you more time to make decisions and learn key skills, like positioning and timing.
- A low-pressure way to explore different plays and get a feel for real hockey flow without the pressure of online play.
- An offline mode in HUT where you play a shorter NHL season against AI-controlled teams created by other players.
- When starting out, choose a low difficulty for each match. As you improve, you can increase it.
- Progress and rewards are based entirely on your performance, so it’s great for playing at your own pace without leaderboards or outside pressure.
Learn NHL 26 controls and basic gameplay moves
To get familiar with how your controls work, go to Settings > Controller Settings > Controls in-game.Start by learning the NHL 26 controls for core gameplay moves, including how to shoot, pass, hit, deke, and defend.- Shoot
- Hustle (sprint)
- Pass
- Deke
- Poke Check
- Stick Lift
Adjust settings for easier learning
You can tailor a beginner-friendly experience by adjusting specific settings to slow the pace, improve visibility, and help you get comfortable faster.As your skills improve, try gradually adjusting settings back to their default values for a more authentic and challenging experience.
Want to get started in NHL 26 without adjusting lots of settings manually? Use Quick Settings to jump right in.Here’s how to apply some beginner-friendly settings that will simplify controls, reduce AI difficulty, and ease you into gameplay.
- 1From the main NHL 26 menu, go to Settings.
- 2Select Quick Settings.
- 3Under Your NHL Experience, choose I Am New To Sports Gaming.
- 4Under Difficulty, choose Rookie.
Gameplay sliders are adjustable settings that let you fine-tune how gameplay works in NHL 26. Adjusting sliders can make it easier to learn and improve. To access Gameplay Sliders, open the main NHL 26 menu and go to Settings > Gameplay Sliders.Then, head to these tabs to adjust the following sliders for a beginner-friendly experience.
- General
- Lower Game Speed to slow down the action and give yourself more time to react.
- Increase Fatigue Recovery to help your players tire less quickly.
- Skating
- Increase Player Acceleration to help skaters reach top speed faster, making it easier to break away or recover on defense.
- Increase Skating Agility to boost responsiveness when turning or changing direction.
- Passing
- Increase Pass Assist to help land clearer passes more consistently.
- Puck Control
- Increase Puck Control to hang onto the puck longer after bumps and give yourself more time to make a play.
- Goalies
- Lower the Goal Reaction Time options for your opponent to slightly increase scoring chances and help reinforce good shot selection.
- For better awareness of the ice and more visibility of the play:
- go to Camera Settings
- select Overhead or Zone.
- To see recommended passes, shots, and positioning cues during play:
- go to Visual Settings
- set the On-Ice Trainer to Light or Full
- Take time to explore different settings and find what helps you learn best. Even small adjustments can help you find your rhythm and build confidence on the ice.
Pick an NHL team you know
If you follow real-world NHL, start with your favorite team. Learning the game is easier when you’re already familiar with the players, their strengths, and how they play.Understanding how players perform in real life can also help you make smarter decisions. When you already know their tendencies, it’s easier to anticipate movement, make better passes, and read the ice.Learn basic hockey strategies
Understanding these basic hockey concepts can help you get to grips with NHL 26 faster. This section breaks down key ideas to help you move better on the ice, make smarter plays, and understand what’s happening in the game.- Skating uses stamina, which is your player’s energy. When stamina is low, players skate and react more slowly.
- To conserve stamina, use short bursts of speed instead of constant sprinting.
- Hold the Vision Control button to face the play. This helps you pass or shoot quickly without turning your skater first.
- Use tight turns and pivots to stay between the opponent and your net. This positioning helps you defend more effectively.
- Good passing and shot selection can help keep the puck moving and avoid turnovers.
- Pass to open space, not into traffic. Look for teammates who aren’t surrounded by defenders.
- Use quick passes to keep the puck moving. This makes it harder for opponents to intercept.
- Try different shot types.
- Wristshots for accuracy.
- Slapshots for power.
- One-timers when a teammate is set up.
- Defense isn’t just about hitting. Remember to also focus on positioning, timing, and stick control. Poorly timed actions can lead to penalties.
- Keep a gap between your defender and the puck carrier. Make sure you’re close enough to challenge, but far enough to react.
- Use poke checks and stick lifts sparingly. Spamming these can lead to tripping or high-sticking penalties.
- Switch to the closest defender early to cut off passing lanes and keep up with the play.
- If players stay on the ice too long, they get tired, skate slower, and make more mistakes. Rotate players often to maintain speed, effectiveness, and to avoid fatigue.
- If you’re focusing on learning puck skills and positioning, use auto line changes. Once you're comfortable, switch to manual.
- Adjust team strategies during play as needed.
- Behind on the scoreboard? Switch to a more aggressive forecheck to put pressure on the opponent’s defense.
- Want to protect your lead? Use a tighter breakout strategy when moving the puck out of your zone.
- A faceoff is how play starts after a stoppage. Winning them gives your team control of the puck.
- Pay attention to your opponent’s stick position. This can hint at the move they’ll make.
- Time your move right as the referee drops the puck. Reacting too early or too late makes it easier to lose the draw.
- Mix backhand, forehand, and tie-up strategies to keep opponents guessing.
Avoid common beginner mistakes
Here are a few common mistakes to watch out for in NHL 26, and how to avoid them to improve faster, enjoy the game more, and stay one step ahead on the ice.- Your player has a stamina bar, which works like an energy meter. Holding the Hustle button to constantly sprint (also called a speed burst) drains stamina quickly.
- When stamina is low, your player slows down and becomes less effective at skating, passing, and defending.
- Use speed bursts only when it matters, like when chasing a loose puck, breaking away toward the net, or closing the gap on defense.
- Players take turns going on and off the ice in short bursts called shifts. Shifts that are too long can tire out your players, making them slower and more prone to mistakes.
- Shorter shifts help your team respond quicker and avoid slow, tired play in critical moments.
- Aim for 30 to 45 second shifts to keep players energized and fast.
- Special teams are the groups of players that take the ice during power plays and penalty kills.
- Power play: happens when your team has more players on the ice because your opponent took a penalty.
- Penalty kill: happens when your team has fewer players on the ice due to your own penalty.
- Both situations require different tactics than regular play.
- On a power play, don’t rush your shots. Use the extra space to pass the puck, control possession, and wait for a high-quality scoring chance.
- During a penalty kill, focus on blocking passes and clearing the puck out of your zone to waste time.
- Practice basic formations to make these situations more effective.