Wild slap shots - anyone else experiencing this?

Thanks again.  I'm doing OK now with my standard controller as long as I'm careful to return the right stick to as close to the 0 position as possible.  Be well!

Yeah, it's an interesting thought. I'll pass on the feedback. There are some controllers that allow you to set the dead zone. That might also work.

Thank you!  Much appreciated.  As I indicated, I've been extra careful to return the Right Stick straight up and it seems to have disappeared.  I wonder if a 5 degree adjustment on both sides from top dead center would be worth considering though?  Just a thought.  In the meantime, let's hope it doesn't happen again.  Be well.

Check the official EA Forums or Reddit for widespread discussions and potential workarounds or confirmation from EA. 

I'm really not aware of these reports on our forums and I haven't noticed an abundance of them on reddit. My teammates are not complaining about slapshots frequently going in a different direction than where they're aiming. I'll keep an eye out for other reports though. Thanks!

Hmmm.  OK.  I've been very careful returning the right stick to top dead center and it seems to have disappeared.  I tried the game with two different brand new controllers in fact (I opened one that I really didn't want to as I was saving it but oh well).

For fun I asked Google's AI if anyone was experiencing wild slap shots in NHL 26 and here's the response (interesting - or maybe it's referencing this post/thread):

Yes, players are reporting inconsistent/wild slapshots (like slices/hooks) after recent patches in EA NHL games (likely NHL 26), especially when skating or stationary, turning shots into unpredictable "bumper pool," indicating a physics/animation bug after updates, common in EA Sports titles. 

Common Player Feedback & Experience:

• Weird Shot Angles: Players describe shots going way off target, wide left or right, even when aiming straight at the net.
• Physics Glitch: It feels like a broken physics interaction, where the puck's trajectory is unnatural and unpredictable.
• Post-Patch Issue: Many users link this specific problem directly to the latest game updates, suggesting a regression in shot mechanics.
• Bumper Pool Effect: Sometimes other players or objects might deflect it, but it's usually chaotic rather than helpful. 

What It Might Be:

• Animation Glitch: The player's shot animation might be decoupling from the intended shot vector.
• Physics Engine Bug: The puck physics might not be correctly calculating spin or impact after the patch.
• Player Attributes/Momentum: While less likely the sole cause, player momentum or stick handling might interact poorly with the new mechanics. 

Where to Find More Info:

• Check the official EA Forums or Reddit for widespread discussions and potential workarounds or confirmation from EA. 

So far, the only way I've been able to make that happen is by holding in RT/R2. Otherwise, every shot is at the net. It's pretty odd if it's happening without doing that. I know you're using a new controller so it doesn't seem like it would be a controller issue. That's the only other thing I can think of though. Regardless, sounds like it's back to working normally. Let me know if it continues. Thanks!

Hello.  It does look like that.  But no, I wasn't holding RT/R2.  I think it happens if you don't return the right stick to a nearly perfect top dead center position.  I went into practice mode and I couldn't recreate the issue.  I've been very careful when playing a game now and it seems to have disappeared.  My only suggestion would be to give a little more latitude to the position that the stick has to return to in order to execute a slap shot on net.  Maybe a few more degrees on either side of top dead center of the stick?

Hey there. That kind of looks like a slap pass. Were you accidentally holding in RT/R2?

Here's another video from a new game.  Back to the first brand new Microsoft controller.  Checked twice for calibration.  Same teams (although that is irrelevant).

https://youtu.be/mx0zRhXrK6g

OK.  Just opened up another brand new Microsoft controller, updated the firmware, and recalibrated it.  Launched NHL 26 and it's still happening.  Very odd.