More generally, if you're playing versus or hut, you're encouraged to sit in the slot and do no manual defending whatsoever. It has been the META for years to let the CPU defend.
If you're absolutely forced to cut a pass, holding L2 while not skating is the most effective technique. Pokechecking at the pass used to work. Simply gliding in the passing lane as well, as long as you're not actively skating.
The main issue this year are the passes very close to the net are very hard to stop because your player won't get close enough to the net for one, and also the manual intercepting is terrible.
