Hockey, one of the most popular sports in Canada and the USA, is certainly an exciting sport to play and watch. So, it’s no surprise that it also attracts many different punters. People simply love the action of a game, and they sometimes love how aggressive it can get. Plus, the most popular league is certainly the NHL, attracting thousands of fans and punters for the most popular cup. And if all this sounds attractive to you, then you should know a few tips and tricks if you want to bet on a game – especially if you are a beginner.
Find a Good Betting Site
First things first – choosing a reliable online betting operator is half a success. Unfortunately, today we have plenty of sites that just want to scam you or offer such unfair odds that it is almost impossible to win anything – even though you studied your hockey well. So, do the research and find reliable sports betting websites. One great advice is to look at several online review websites to get started. For example, many Canadian punters seek advice from www.gambleontario.ca, an unbiased review website offering only the best advice and sportsbooks for your NHL betting endeavours. You can easily find expert advice on such sites, as well as which bookies offer the best odds and many other amenities. Once you find a sports betting site that you can trust, only then should you sign up and deposit your money. Then you can apply all the knowledge you will read about here.
Types of NHL Bets
Like many other team sports, hockey has several types of bets – betting on a winner being the most obvious. Besides that, punters can wager on the total number of goals in the game, and many other details. However, there are three most popular hockey betting lines – the moneyline, puck line and over/under goal total.
Moneyline – Picking the Winner
This is the most straightforward and popular way to bet on NHL games. Here, you simply pick which team you think will win the game and place your bet on it. But, each team will have its own moneyline which will reflect the team’s probability of winning.
Puck Line – Even the Odds
This type of bet is hockey’s version of the point spread. Here, a specific number of goals are marked as a handicap between the two teams playing.
However, due to routinely close contests and low scores, the most common line is 1.5 goals. You will also have team favourites in the puck line and that’s why you should choose wisely on who to bet.
Over/Under – Total Combined Score
As the title says, in this bet you are predicting the total combined score of an NHL game. The makers of the odds will set a certain total number to be scored and then you can bet if the score is going to go over or under that total.
Other Ways to Bet
Besides the three most popular bets, there are other ways you can wager in hockey:
- Parlays – wagering a single amount across multiple bets.
- 60-minute line – also called a three-way market, is a bet without overtime with three possible outcomes (visitor win, home win or a tie).
- Grand Salami – betting on every game on the slate for the day with a single bet.
- Live betting – betting while the game is live, but not all sportsbooks offer this.
- Prop bets – betting on specific aspects of the game, no matter the final score.
- And many others.
Now Some NHL Betting Tips
Now that you know what you can bet on, it’s time to learn a few tricks and advice from experts in the field.
Never Underestimate the Underdogs
Hockey is a sport of action and there are too many scores that are close between the two teams in every game. So, do not underestimate the underdogs and don’t pick your favourites blindly.
It only takes a fortunate puck bounce or a hot goalie to change the outcome of the game. But that doesn’t mean you should always pick an underdog, and doing your research on the teams and players is a must.
Check Starting Goalies
Every goalie in the NHL is pivotal to a team’s success. However, only a few punters remember to check which goalie is between the pipes before the game. So, search for that information, find out who is starting on the net, and check their stats in the previous games.
Recognize Momentum
As said, hockey is unpredictable and packed with action. And the biggest reason for that is that underdogs tend to ride the momentum all the way to the win. Your job here is to learn how to recognize that momentum, especially if you plan to bet live on the NHL. This can significantly increase your chances of predicting the outcome correctly.
North America certainly loves hockey, and the NHL is their biggest league filled with action and amazing teams and players. And if you are passionate about this sport, you should know how to successfully place your bets – especially if you are a novice. So, do the research – both on sports books and teams – learn more about the rules if you need to, and study those odds and bets.
