Intro to NHL Betting Trends
The NHL presents several opportunities for sports bettors. Its 82-game regular season is full of action-packed games, and the lengthy battle for the Stanley Cup includes four rounds of best-of-seven series.
Whether you're a lifelong hockey fan or new to the sport, you may wonder about the best ways to bet on the NHL. If you are going to place wagers on the sport's top league, it's worth understanding the type of statistical trends that can inform your strategy.
This guide provides an overview of NHL wager types and the sort of trends to keep an eye out for to help you place bets with confidence and enhance your hockey-watching experience.
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Common NHL Betting Markets
Leading sportsbooks can offer an overwhelming number of NHL betting markets for every hockey game on the schedule, not all of which will be appealing to novice bettors.
Below, you'll find a summary of the most common types of wagers available:
Bet Type | Explanation | Example |
---|---|---|
Moneyline | Bet on which team will win the game outright. | Betting on the Philadelphia Flyers (-150) to beat the New York Rangers. |
Puck Line | Hockey's version of a point spread is almost always set at +/-1.5. | Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (+130) vs. the San Jose Sharks. |
Over/Under (Total Goals) | Bet on the total number of goals scored by both teams. | Betting on over 5.5 goals (-110) in a game between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. |
First Period Winner | Bet on a team to be ahead at the end of the first period. | Backing the Colorado Avalanche (+120) to win the first period. |
Player Props | Bet on individual player statistics. | Betting on Connor McDavid to produce over 1.5 points (+150). |
Team Props | Bet on team-specific outcomes. | Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning to score the first goal (-110). |
Correct Score | Bet on the exact final score. | Betting on a 3-2 final score for the Washington Capitals (+450). |
Live Betting | Place bets as the game unfolds. | Picking the Penguins (+200) to win after trailing 2-1 in the second period. |
Futures | Bet on season-long outcomes. | Betting on the Vegas Golden Knights (+800) to win the Stanley Cup before the season begins. |