NHL Odds

If you’re interested in betting on NHL games, it’s important to understand how to read American NHL odds. These odds are often used by sportsbooks here in the United States, and they can be a bit confusing for beginners. However, once you understand how they work, you’ll be able to make informed betting decisions and potentially win a buck or two.

First, it’s important to understand that American NHL odds are presented in either positive or negative numbers. Positive numbers indicate the underdog in the game, while negative numbers indicate the favorite. Let’s take a look at an example:

• New York Rangers +140
• Boston Bruins -160

In this example, the Boston Bruins are the favorite, indicated by the negative number. The New York Rangers are the underdog, indicated by the positive number. The number itself represents the amount you would need to bet to win $100. For example, if you wanted to bet on the Boston Bruins, you would need to bet $160 to win $100. If you wanted to bet on the New York Rangers, you would only need to bet $100 to win $140.

Another important aspect to understand is the concept of the moneyline. The moneyline is a way of betting on which team will win the game outright, regardless of the point spread. In the above example, if you bet on the Boston Bruins at -160, you would win your bet if they won the game, even if they only won by one goal. The same applies to the New York Rangers at +140.

It’s important to note that American NHL odds can also be used for betting on the total number of goals scored in a game, known as the over/under. In this case, the odds will be presented in the same positive/negative format, with the same principle applying: negative numbers indicate the over is the favorite, while positive numbers indicate the under is the favorite.

For example:

Over 5.5 goals -130 Under 5.5 goals +110

In this example, the over is the favorite, indicated by the negative number. This means you would need to bet $130 to win $100. If you wanted to bet on the under, you would only need to bet $100 to win $110.

In conclusion, understanding how to read American NHL odds is an important skill for anyone interested in betting on NHL games. By knowing which team is the favorite and which is the underdog, as well as the concept of the moneyline, you’ll be able to make informed betting decisions and potentially win big.