First of all - use vision control to skate backwards. Then position yourself so that your stickblade breaks the line between the puck carriers stickblade and the pass receiver. You don't have to do anything but be in the right position. Your player will automatically try to break the pass.

To increase the chance to intercept the pass, press L1 (LB xbox) to put the whole stick in the passing lane. You still need to hold L2, vision control (LT xbox), to skate backwards.

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On defense I mainly rely on positioning. Body checks are less effective in NHL 10 and focusing on keeping the stick blade in your opponents passing lane will get you a long way.

Strategy wise I try to force the puck carrier towards one side of the ice. This I do by positioning myself in the passing lane over to the weak side (the side where the puck isn't), so that my opponent only have the strong side (the side where the puck is) open to move/pass to.

Also, I kind of set a trap by not challenging the winger but positioning myself near him. When the winger receives the puck, I bodycheck him if he's by the halfboards (and I'm positioned right). If he moves away from the boards, I'll skate backwards, infront of him, letting him get closer until the puck's right infront of me and then I'll go for a poke check. This strategy works well with the Neutral Zone Trap.

I very rarely go for open ice bodychecks and on D I'm carefull when moving my players. Overchecking will send your players all over the ice, and that's what breaks down your defense. I skate backwards slowly (I sort of pump the LS with little moves in the direction I want to go), and I focus on following my opponents body (not the puck), letting him get closer until, when he's close enough, I make my move.

1 on 1, I position myself between the opponent and my own goal (quite obvious) and a little bit over to the weak side (trying to force him over to the near post). Letting him get closer, I try to challenge him, at least, before he pass the line between the face off points.

Here's a video with some solid defensive play from both teams (my opponent was actually better). I especially like how he body checks the pass reciever instead of going for the puck carrier (0:10).

Here's an example showing the importance of positioning. I play C here and instead of challenging the puck carrier all the time, I stay in the centre, trying to cut off the passing lanes, until I get an opportunity to win the puck.

L2 (LT xbox) triggers vision control.

This will make you face the puck (or goal if your behind the net), enabling you to skate bakwards in defensive zone and to take better positions for deflections, passes and shots in the offensive zone.

Hold it to hipcheck on defense. Use it in passing lanes to intercept the opponent's passes.

Holding it down also makes your aim better, for both passes and shots.

Also, you can trigger special moves while using VC. L1 triggers a drop pass. If you hold it down and move the RS in a circular motion from 5 o'clock over to 7 o'clock, or vice versa, you'll make a spin move. Pulling the puck back to 5 or 7 o'clock (depending if your're a lefty or righty) while holding L2 triggers a one handed deke.

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