NHL Betting – The Basics

Betting on National Hockey League games can be a great way to show your love and passion for your favorite team. However, before you dive in and make any money-based decisions, there are certain strategies that you should keep in mind. Building around these core fundamentals can help set yourself up for NHL betting success as long as you stay disciplined and smart.

In this blog post, we will discuss how to bet on NHL games. We will go over the different types of bets that you can place, as well as some tips to help you win more often. So if you are ready to start betting on hockey, read on!

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier professional ice hockey league in North America. Founded in 1917, it is composed of 31 teams across the United States (24) and Canada (7), divided into two conferences, the Eastern and Western. These Conferences are further divided into two divisions based on geographical area.

The season starts in October and ends with playoffs in June. NHL players come from different countries around the world, making games between franchises highly competitive. The season consists of 82 regular-season games to determine who will qualify for post-season play as well as how much home advantage they receive during playoff rounds.

It holds a Stanley Cup Playoffs tournament which culminates in one team being awarded the Stanley Cup trophy for the championship title.

If you want to bet on the NHL, it is important to have an understanding of the different types of bets. This way, you can choose which ones are most suitable for your tactical approach and goals.

Here are some of the common wagers that you can place on NHL games:

These are the simplest form of wagering in hockey. You simply need to pick a team that you think will win, and if they do, then your bet will be successful. For example, let’s say that the Tampa Bay Lightings face off against the Boston Bruins. The Moneyline odds for this game might look something like this:

In this example, if you bet on the Tampa Bay Lightings at +120, then for every $100 that you wager, you’ll win an additional $120. On the other hand, if you bet on the Boston Bruins at -140, then for every $140 that you wager, you’ll win an additional $100.

These betting lines are set by considering each team’s form and likelihood to win. Factors that sportsbooks consider include:

Puck line bets in hockey are a type of spread bet that involves the favorite and underdog. The favorite is given a “puck line” of -1.5 goals, which means they must win the game by two or more goals for your bet to be successful.

For example, if the favored team is the Florida Panthers and they are given the -1.5 puck line, they would need to win by two or more goals in order for a wager on them to pay off. This is a way for bookmakers to even up the game and give closer odds for the teams involved.

Totals bets in hockey involve betting on the number of goals scored by both teams combined. This type of bet is also known as “over/under” wagering, where you make a prediction on whether or not the combined score will be over or under a certain number.

For example, let’s say that the total for a game between the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings is set at 5.5 goals. If you bet that the combined score will be “over”, then you are predicting that there will be six or more total goals scored in the game. On the other hand, if you bet that it will be “under”, then you are predicting that there will be five or fewer total goals scored in the game.

This type of wager is popular among those who want to hedge their bets and look for safer options than Moneyline or puck line bets. You don’t have to pick a winner, only predict how many goals both teams can score together.

Parlay bets in hockey involve combining multiple wagers into one larger bet. If any of the individual bets that you’ve included in the parlay loses, then your entire wager will be lost as well.

For example, let’s say that you decide to make a parlay bet on the following three games:

You could choose to make Moneyline bets on each of these games, and if all three of your picks win, then you will receive a collective payout based on the odds of all three wagers.

Parlay bets in hockey are riskier but can pay off much larger amounts if all of your predictions come true. This type of betting is great for those who want to increase their potential profits but are also willing to take a higher risk.

Propositional (“prop”) bets in hockey involve wagering on certain outcomes that don’t necessarily have to do with the outcome of the game. These wagers can involve:

For example, if you were betting on a Tampa Bay Lightings game, you could make a prop bet on the total number of penalty minutes that the Lightings and their opponents will accumulate in a game. Or if you were betting on a Florida Panthers game, you could make a prop bet on how many goals the Panthers will score in the first period.

Futures bets in hockey involve wagering on the outcome of an event that will take place at a later date. These bets usually pay larger amounts than other types of NHL betting, as they are based on predicting how teams and players will perform over the course of a season.

For example, you could make a futures bet on which team will win the Stanley Cup or which player will be the leading scorer in the league.

1. Understand NHL Rules: As with any sport, it’s important to understand the rules in order to make informed wagers.

2. Follow Team News: It’s also essential to stay up-to-date on team news and injury reports so you can accurately assess a team’s chances of winning a game.

3. Look for Value Bets: Look for bets that offer better value than the market average, such as underdog Moneyline bets or puck line wagers.

4. Bet on Trends: Use trends to help you make informed wagers. For example, certain teams may have a record of winning against other teams in certain cities or stadiums.

5. Avoid Heavy Favorites: Be wary of betting on heavy favorites as they tend to offer lower odds, meaning that you won’t earn much money if your bet comes through.