New L2 animation without puck

Hello everyone, 

been playing NHL 25 since last friday,  the new L2 skating has been really fun with the puck entering the zone making plays at the blue line and behind the net, skating has been great ,fantastic job EA.

My issue is without the puck the players just seem to back skate (auto back skate is off) they don't seem to ever go into the new defensive L2 animation that I get when I'm playing in ONE'S. It's such a sick animation I would like to see it performed when I press L2 without the puck, instead I just skate backwards with no new animation.

I've tried using a winger and the center thinking maybe just the D skate backward but nothing. When it happens it's not often,  for instance I play 5 minute periods and I'll have a handful of times it happens.  It's such a great feeling animation I would like to use it more often as I do L2 with the puck. What do you guys think? Stay safe and enjoy 25.