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Unpredictable matchups, advanced analytics, and accessibility make NHL betting quite popular among everyone. Gone are the days when you had to go to a betting shop to place some action on Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers.
With various betting sites offering markets on the NHL, punters can take part in the action anytime and anywhere. But you might be wondering, how to take part? In this article, I will outline what NHL betting is all about, the different betting types and strategies, and the reasons why you need to join in the action right now.
Momentum swings happen more often than not in the National Hockey League (NHL). So, it comes as no surprise that many sports fans are flocking to leading Canada betting sites to find some value bets whenever hockey is on TV. However, there are several things you might want to know to maximize your overall betting experience.
If you haven’t placed some action on leading NHL betting sites, then it’s quite hard to put into words how and why betting on hockey games generates so much excitement. However, in this section, I’ll try and dissect the reasons why placing action on the NHL has become more popular than ever among sports fans outside Canada.
Just like horse betting in Canada, betting on the NHL is a double-edged sword with unpredictable outcomes occurring left and right. However, the unpredictability of the NHL makes it easier to spot value bets if you know what you are looking for.
More often than not, the odds are on plus-money if you are betting on the NHL moneyline alone. As a bettor, this is a welcome sight for sore eyes, considering that odds on most sports leagues, particularly the National Basketball Association and the National Football League, are sometimes wider than expected.
One thing I usually do to avoid the brunt of these unpredictable outcomes is to always check analytics, game schedules, and injury reports before placing a bet. This gives you an opportunity to find value in overlooked bets and maximize NHL betting opportunities.
The NHL moneyline betting market is quite popular considering the odds you’re going to get when you place some action. However, NHL betting is more than just the moneyline market. In fact, you can even take the draw option out if you just want to focus on who wins the match outright.
Alternatively, you can also bet on the puck line market, totals, player props, and even period-specific markets. As a long-time NHL bettor, I’ve found period-specific markets to be quite helpful, considering that there are teams that start slow but turn up the heat in the second and third periods (cough, cough, Toronto Maple Leafs).
You may also want to take action on player props although this is something that I rarely do considering that unpredictability of NHL games. With every player besides the goalie always a threat to score, taking action on player props can be quite risky although it does pay off well if you manage to find excellent betting angles.
Unlike F1 betting in Canada, NHL occurs almost year-round. With teams playing a minimum of 82 games, excluding playoffs, you can find daily betting opportunities in the NHL.
As a long-time NHL bettor, one thing I’ve noticed is oddsmakers and the public often react to short-term struggles. For example, a team on a six-game losing skid might be undervalued despite strong underlying statistics.
If you are sharp, you can spot these overcorrections, which usually happen in the moneyline and puck line markets. By knowing how to spot inefficiencies and adapt to market shifts, you can increase the likelihood of succeeding in NHL betting in the long run.
Live betting is another reason why the NHL is one of my favorite sports leagues to bet on. As mentioned, momentum swings happen far too often in the NHL, and considering hockey’s continuous action, you’ll always find odds constantly shifting from one team to another.
This creates arbitrage opportunities for punters who can react faster than sportsbooks adjust. More often than not, if you pay attention to live betting odds, you can find these slow adjustments especially since sportsbooks take longer to adjust NHL lines compared to the NBA or the NFL where betting volume is higher.
If that’s not good enough, some sportsbooks also offer micro bets such as time of next goal, next goal scorer, and next penalty. This gives you a wide range of fast-paced betting options other than the usual single-game betting in Canada.
Unlike basketball, where scoring can go through the roof, NHL games are usually low-scoring. This means that a single goal can dramatically shift the entire outcome of the game. This makes NHL betting quite attractive, considering that underdogs can always pull off an upset so long as they score and keep their opponents from hitting the back of the net.
Of course, that is easier said than done, considering the competitive nature of the NHL. A good tip, however, is to identify high-variance games before taking part in the action. For example, you may look for games where the teams are playing back-to-back since fatigue can sometimes lead to unpredictable results or sloppy defenses.
What I love about high-variance games is it causes sportsbooks to adjust odds rapidly to the point where they don’t even reflect what’s happening on the ice. In doing so, you can find undervalued teams that start slow but turn the game around or capitalize on a comeback potential when teams trail early.
As mentioned above, there are plenty of ways to take part in the pulsating action of the NHL. In this section, I will talk about the different bets you can place in the NHL. In the table below, I’ve outlined several examples of how each betting market looks like.
| ✨ Bet Type | 💼 Example |
| Moneyline | Minnesota Wild (+210); Draw (+350); Colorado Avalanche (-106) -A $100 bet on the Avalanche will net a potential return of $195. |
| Puck Line Betting | Colorado Avalanche -2.5; Chicago Blackhawks +2.5 – The Avalanche must win by three goals for the bet to hit. |
| Over/Under Betting | Over/Under 6.5 goals – Both teams must score more than six goals if you bet on the over 6.5 goals. |
| Player Prop Betting | Alex Ovechkin Anytime Goalscorer +130 – If Ovechkin scores, a $100 bet will net you up to $230. |
Betting on the moneyline is perhaps the easiest way to wager on the NHL. The moneyline market simply asks punters to choose which team will win the match. Unlike the NBA or the NFL, however, the moneyline market in the NHL consists of three options: Team 1 to Win, Team 2 to Win, and Draw.
However, you can always go on the Match Winner market if you want to avoid the draw. Although this sounds much safer compared to the moneyline market, it does come at slightly lesser odds and is something you don’t want to take if you are backing on a massive favorite.
If you love point spreads, then puck line betting is something you would want to try. Puck line betting is the NHL’s version of point spread. Like point spread betting, a specific number of goals is lined as a handicap between the two teams playing.
Unlike basketball or football betting, where you can see huge point spreads in NFL betting sites in Canada, puck lines are usually set in the 1.5 goals range, considering how low-scoring and close games are. When placing a bet on the puck line market, it’s always good to look at team trends, fatigue levels, and goaltending matchups to find excellent value.
Over/under betting in the NHL is predicting the total combined score of a game. Depending on the teams playing and their offensive as well as defensive prowess, the over/under totals are set between five to six goals.
Since hockey games are low-scoring, the goal totals rarely move as much as basketball. Instead, the odds attached to the Over and Under adjust. When betting on the over/under markets, being aware of in-game situations and team scoring trends are key in succeeding in the long-term.
Player prop betting is another way to take part in the exciting action of the NHL. Several player prop betting markets include, but are not limited to Anytime Goalscorer, First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, and Player to record an Assist.
Depending on your chosen player prop bet, you’ll need to look at player-specific statistics to find value in prop betting. For example, if you bet on the Anytime Goalscorer market, a good tip is to look for high-volume shooters or players on the top of the power play unit.
NHL betting is a marathon not a sprint. So, it’s always recommended to have a strategy in place to avoid bad beats and increase the likelihood of long-term success. While you can always bet on a flyer, this is something you would want to avoid, considering the unpredictability of NHL games. In this section, I’ve outlined several strategies I’ve used to remain profitable betting on the NHL.
Betting on the NHL can bring out plenty of emotions. However, you need to avoid betting based on your emotions to succeed in the long run. One way of doing that is managing your bankroll effectively.
As mentioned, hockey is so unpredictable with upsets and comebacks happening more often due to factors such as shootouts, injuries, and goaltender performances. By managing your bankroll, you can protect one bad streak from wiping out your entire betting budget.
Although there are several ways to manage your bankroll, one thing that has been effective for me is unit betting. This is a strategy where you use a fixed percentage of your bankroll as a betting size rather than wagering random amounts. This makes it easier to keep your bets consistent and disciplined while minimizing risk.
Advanced statistics such as expected goals and Corsi & Fenwick can give you an idea of which teams are efficient offensively and gauge puck possession quickly to generate opportunities to score.
More often than not, casual bettors rely on basic stats such as wins, goalie records, and goals. While there is nothing wrong with it, it doesn’t actually tell the whole story since teams and players have specific tendencies that are not seen on those basic stats.
By shifting your focus towards advanced statistics, you can identify undervalued teams, players, and betting lines as well as find out the team strengths and weaknesses beyond just wins and losses.
NHL teams have hectic schedules. So, load management is quite common for players who want to sit out specific games to rest or get themselves ready for the postseason. Like it or not, injuries can have a huge impact on NHL betting lines and staying ahead of the news gives you an edge before bookmakers adjust.
For example, a team missing its top-line forward could struggle generating some offense, meaning a low-scoring game could be on the cards. On the flip side, teams missing their key defensemen could suffer defensive breakdowns, which ultimately lead to free-flowing and high-scoring matches.
One thing I look at before placing a bet is to check the goalie status because starting goalies can single-handedly win or lose a game. Elite goalies such as Igor Shesterkin, Connor Hellebuyck, and Ilya Sorokin keep scores low, making the under total quite appealing at certain odds.
Betting on the NHL is something you would want to try if you love frequent games, unpredictable outcomes, and various betting markets. Although the game’s unpredictability can be challenging, it also presents an opportunity for punters who use bankroll management and advanced statistics. Whether you are betting on the moneyline or puck line, staying informed and discipline is key to succeeding in NHL betting.
Canadian hockey fans can take part in the exciting action of the NHL by wagering on numerous markets, including moneyline, puck line, and totals.
The puck line betting market works similarly as the handicap betting market, wherein a bookmaker sets a spread for a team to cover.
Popular NHL betting markets include moneyline, puck line, totals, and player prop markets.
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