Faceoffs are much more complex in NHL 11.

During replays you can choose between defensive, normal and aggresive formation for your team. You do this by moving the LS down, right or up.

When it's time for the face off get into position by moving the the RS to 9 or 3 o'clock. If you're a left shooter bringing the RS to 9 will put you in a forehand stance. 3 o'clock puts you in back hand stance. Then move the RS down to try to win the puck.

In a forehand stance (as a left shooter and with a normal faceoff formation) if you win the puck you will send it backwards to the right. So if you're in the offensive zone making a faceoff to the left and you want to take a direct shot with your right D, you have to be i forehand stance.

You can also:
1) Stick lift - move the RS up instead of down (you have grip your stick first).
2) Tie up your opponent - skip moving the RS at all and instead move the LS up.
3) Deke off the draw - hold L1 (LB) and move the RS up after the drop.
4) Shoot - move RS up.

As to when you should move the RS up/down it depends. Most of the time, I would say at the moment the ref drops the puck. Offline usually means you should wait a fraction of a second longer and online you might have to be a little early. Try to be systematic. If you loose a faceoff (where both players don't try any tricks) try waiting a little longer next time. If you loose again, try being a little early. When you've felt out the latency, try remembering how long you waited when you won the puck and repeat your success.

But timing isn't everything. Faceoffs are really a bit like rock, paper and scissors now. EAsports explains in a recent video:


EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NHL 11 ELECTRONICS GAMES PS3 XBOX 360 NINTENDO WII PSP iPHONE APPLE PC BLUERAY TV HOCKEY ELECTRONIC ARTS LCD PLASMA COMPUTERS EA SPORTS

In NHL 11, the longer you hold the R2-button, the harder the pass will be. Just tapping R2 will result in a quick, slow pass that is easy for your team mates to recieve but also easy for the opponents to intercept. If you hold the R2 for several seconds, you will send a hard pass away that has better chance getting through.
When you're attempting a cross-crease pass and there are opponents in the passing lane, then the pass has to be hard if you're going to have any chance getting the pass through. Cross-ice passes also need to be hard.
There's really no limit to how long you can hold the R2-trigger, but remeber that a pass can be too hard for the reciever to get control of, so there's no point in overusing hard passes when the distance between the puck holder and the reciever is short and there are no opponents in the way.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NHL 11 ELECTRONICS GAMES PS3 XBOX 360 NINTENDO WII PSP iPHONE APPLE PC BLUERAY TV HOCKEY ELECTRONIC ARTS LCD PLASMA COMPUTERS EA SPORTS

This is a very good guide from Operation Sports covering the on-the-fly coaching options adressed to the D-pad in NHL 10:

NHL 10: Improving your On-The-Fly Coaching

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NHL 11 ELECTRONICS GAMES PS3 XBOX 360 NINTENDO WII PSP iPHONE APPLE PC BLUERAY TV HOCKEY ELECTRONIC ARTS LCD PLASMA COMPUTERS EA SPORTS

GameFocus - 9.2

GameTrailers - 9.2

Gameinformer - 9.0

GameSpot - 9.0

IGN - 8.5

PSU - 8.5

Gamereactor (Swe) - 9.0

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NHL 11 ELECTRONICS GAMES PS3 XBOX 360 NINTENDO WII PSP iPHONE APPLE PC BLUERAY TV HOCKEY ELECTRONIC ARTS LCD PLASMA COMPUTERS EA SPORTS