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NHL 23 is officially out and there’s so much to be excited about. At the forefront of it all is the gameplay, coming with a new set of features and improved fluidity that have provided the game with a whole new level of depth and meaning.
When it comes to NHL 23’s gameplay, some might be looking forward to scoring goals, while others might be relishing to try out the new body check mechanics when delivering big hits. Who doesn’t love imitating Scott Stevens?
Legally being allowed to send other people flying in the course of a game is incredibly satisfying and NHL 23 allows you to do just that. Thanks to the Frostbite engine, the graphics and physics only add to the satisfaction of laying a great hit.
On that note, here’s how to level a body check in NHL 23.
NOW READ: Looking to get in a brawl in NHL 23? We detail how to start a fight here.
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NHL 23: How To Body Check
To do a body check in NHL 23 you’ll need to use the defensive skill stick. On Xbox, this is the right stick and the right analog stick on Playstation. Skate in the direction of the opposing player and hold up on the right stick.
Hip Checks are much more difficult to pull off. While holding L1 on Playstation or LB on Xbox, click in the right analog stick at the same time as skating in the direction of the opposing player.
A good hit is incredibly satisfying but be careful running around chasing for them. Body checks can take your player out of position as much as they can help you. This becomes incredibly important for defensemen when pinching in the offensive zone. Should you chase a hit, you risk can an odd-man rush against you and concede a goal.
That said, you can get away with missed hits on forwards deep in the offensive zone and still have a chance to recover. However, if you do get a chance to have a major turnover with a big hit on a defenseman carrying the puck, that could lead to an instant scoring chance.
New to NHL 23 is the last chance puck movement. This makes body checks even riskier to chase after. Since players will have a chance to move the puck even as contact is initiated, body checking is less effective than it is traditionally.
Be even more careful this season with hits that could take you out of position at all. If you do decide to take a risk, be sure you have numbers behind you.
To get acquainted with how to body check, we recommend you try it out with some of the best rated defenders at body checking in the game.
