NHL Sports Betting: Market Types, Apps and Bonuses

Introduction

The National Hockey League (NHL), founded in 1917, consists of 32 Member Clubs. Each team roster reflects the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports—the Stanley Cup

Sports betting has been on the rise ever since the ‘90s. Flash-forward to 2024 and the industry is bigger than ever, with the United States alone having over 25 million active sports bettors (per Statista). As you would expect, the sports betting wave has spread to most major sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, and the NHL. In particular, the NHL has embraced sports betting partnerships with open arms, highlighted by the fact that 17 NHL teams currently have sports betting partners

What is NHL Sports Betting?

Explanation of how NHL betting works

In the NHL, it’s most often -1.5, with some exceptions. So, the favorite must win by two or more goals to cash the bet. Therefore, a +1.5 underdog can either win the game or lose by one goal to cover a puck line. Total (Over/Under): This refers to the total number of goals scored in the game.

READ MORE: Flat Betting Strategy: Is It Really the Best?

Overview of betting markets

• Futures

One of the more popular forms of hockey betting is the futures bet. Futures bets are wagers on an outcome that will happen in the distant future over the course of multiple games. For example, you can place a futures bet at the beginning of the season on who will win the Stanley Cup Championships

• Moneyline

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game outright, with betting odds based on each team’s expected chances to win.

Example: Say the Boston Bruins are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, who they will likely beat. The moneyline odds on this game might show as Philadelphia +180 vs Boston -220. Odds on the favorite with a “-” indicate how much you would need to bet to win $100, in this case $220 to win $100. Underdog odds with a “+” show how much you would win on a $100 bet, in this case $100 to earn a $180 profit if the Flyers win.

• Prop bets

Hockey prop bets allow you to wager on specific aspects of a game, unrelated to the final score. NHL props include odds for NHL player props as well as events and happenings throughout a game.

Bettors can choose from a variety of player props that include goals, assists, points, power-play points, shots, hits, saves, and shutouts. Props are usually set up much like totals, where a number is set, and we have to choose Over or Under that set total.

• Over/under

Also known as a totals bet, this is a wager on the total number of goals scored in an NHL game by both teams. Sportsbooks set a line, usually between 5.5 and 6.5 goals, and you place your bet on whether the total goals scored will go over or under that line.

For example: Using the above game between the Sabres and Rangers, if you bet over 6.5 goals and the final score ends up being 4-3, your bet would win because the seven total goals scored were over the line. However, if the final score was 4-2, the over would lose, and the under bet would be the winner.

• Puck line

The puck line is hockey’s version of the point spread. When betting on the puck line, the favourite is -1.5 goals on the spread, with the underdog at +1.5 goals. Betting on the favorite requires your team to win its game by two or more goals. Conversely, betting on the underdog at +1.5 means that your team can either win the game or lose by one goal, and your ticket will still cash.

How to Bet on NHL Games

Steps to place a bet

• To bet on NHL, choose a sportsbook
• understand key bet types like moneyline, puck line, and totals
• research team stats and goalie matchups
• place your wager before puck drop.

 Successful betting requires knowledge of NHL trends, injuries, and line movement.

Popular NHL Sports Betting Picks

Common types of picks

Underdog vs favourite

Favourites: Denoted with a minus (-) sign. The number shows how much you need to bet to win $100. Underdogs: Denoted with a plus (+) sign. The number shows how much you’ll win if you bet $100.

Over/under

Over/under is a betting market that lets bettors predict whether the combined score by the two opposing teams is over or under the pre-determined figure set by sportsbooks.

Period Betting

Wagering on individual periods rather than the full game. If you believe a team will have a strong start to a game then you can bet on them to outscore the opponent and win a specific period, or you could bet on game totals within that period.

NHL Sports Betting Strategies

• Bankroll management basics

Every sports bettor should always be conscious of their bankroll, no matter how often or how much they intend to bet. To enjoy short-term or long-term success, it’s necessary to blend your sports knowledge and research with a bankroll management strategy. Taking advantage of a sportsbook welcome offer is always a good idea

• Focus on home/away performance, goalie stats, injuries

Teams perform better at home for many reasons—familiarity, fan support, and reduced travel stress. Conversely, away teams deal with fatigue, different conditions, and even time zone changes. Bettors who analyze these factors can identify value bets that others ignore

• Matchups

You’ll want to start by measuring each team’s strengths and weaknesses and how those compare to their opponents.

For example, suppose a team plays physically but often finds itself in the penalty box. In that case, a matchup against one of the best power-play attacks could be damning. Or, a team with a thin blue line could get into trouble versus an opponent with a deep forward group.

• Injuries

Injuries play a massive role when betting on NHL odds. The gruelling nature of the game and the wear and tear from demanding schedules will see players in and out of the lineup for short and long stints.

Hockey bettors will want to examine how an injured player will change a team’s dynamic and how much of its success depends on that missing piece.

NHL Betting Tips for Beginners

• Keep it simple (start with moneyline)

A moneyline is probably the most basic wager you can make—who do you think will win a particular game? If you’re just getting started with sports betting, a Moneyline bet is among the easiest to understand. With this bet, you are simply deciding who you think the winner of a given game will be.

• Don’t chase losses

Never chase your losses. While it can be tempting to double down after a losing streak, doing so often leads to poor decisions, damaged bankrolls, and the potential for gambling problems

• Track your bets

This data allows you to analyze your performance over time, identify strengths and weaknesses, and adjust your betting strategy accordingly. Without a bet tracker, bettors often rely on memory or scattered notes, leading to inaccuracies and missed opportunities

• Bet with logic, not emotion

Use Logic Over Emotion: Betting should be a calculated risk, not an emotional gamble. By focusing on logic and data, punters can increase their chances of success

NHL Betting Apps and Platforms

For new users, taking advantage of sports betting promos provides the opportunity to add bonus bets to your account to get started in hockey betting.

Final Words

Knowing about the basics of NHL sports betting will help you a lot when placing a bet. Understanding how the NHL works is child’s play, but still you have to be careful while betting and don’t bet on emotion. You should always try to manage your bankroll. And be a responsible bettor.

Courtesy: https://www.covers.com/, https://www.globenewswire.com