NHL Sports Betting – How To Bet on Hockey Games

Let’s learn how to make some NHL bets, shall we?

Hockey games typically start in October – here is a link to the official NHL schedule for you to bookmark and come back to later – and there games every night of the season which runs from October to May. The postseason runs in May and June, and then an NHL Champion is crowned.

To find out if betting is legal in your state, read this sports betting state guide.

Let’s skip the fluff and jump right in.

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How NHL betting works

The most common betting types in the NHL are pretty much the same as for the other major sports: point spreads, totals, and moneyline bets. The exception is the puckline, which is like the spread but only used for hockey.

Totals, also known as over/under

This type of bet is called totals because you bet on the projected number of goals both teams will score in a game. Easy, right?

You can bet on whether the total will be “over” or “under” that number (which is why it’s also referred to as over/under). For example, if the total for an NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers is set at 5.5 goals, betting on “over” means you win if the teams score a combined 6 or more goals. These bets typically have odds of -110.

Here is a quick video that explains this concept further:

Puckline

As mentioned, the puckline is a type of point spread bet where a standard point spread of 1.5 goals is applied to the game. It works like this: the favored team must win by more than 1.5 goals, while the underdog can lose by up to 1.5 goals for a bet on them to win.

This bet offers higher potential payouts for favorites and can be an alternative to moneyline betting when odds on the favored team are less favorable. Makes sense?

Moneyline bets

Moneyline bets are also pretty straightforward: pick the team you believe will win the game, then bet on it.

If you see NHL odds like Toronto Maple Leafs -200 and Boston Bruins +175, it means the Leafs are the favorites, and you’d need to bet $200 to win $100.

So, a $100 bet on the Bruins would give you $175 if they win as the underdogs.

Don’t we have a video explaining this in detail, you ask? Yes we do!

NHL odds are usually written in three formats: American, Decimal, and Fractional:

• American odds: Three positive or negative numbers (for example +125 or -125), indicating the potential payout.
• Fractional odds: Used to calculate your potential profit by multiplying your bet by the fraction.
• Decimal odds: These show the total potential payout, including your original bet, with a single number. For instance, 2.25 means you’d win $2.25 for every $1 wagered, and 3.35 equates to $3.35 for each $1 bet.

Other Popular NHL Betting Types

In addition to the basic bet types we just covered, there are other bets you can make, if you want to bet on things that will happen further out:

• Stanley Cup winner:  Right at the start of the season you can bet on the team you think will take home the Stanley Cup. These odds will likely change throughout the season based on team performance.
• Divisional winner: Similar to the above, these bets focus on winning division titles, with shorter odds (odds related to something more likely to happen) due to fewer teams in a division.
• Conference winner: Same as the above but for the Conference.
• Most Valuable Player (Hart Trophy): If you think you know who will be crowned Most Valuable Player, this bet is for you.
• Rookie of the Year (Calder Memorial Trophy): Which rookie do you think will have the biggest impact? If you think you can guess, you should bet on it!

OK ladies, let’s move on by looking at PROPS. What are props you ask? Great question!

Prop bets focus on specific things that will happen in the game. For example, in a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames, you might have opportunities to bet on props like:

• Carey Price Over/Under 25.5 Saves
• Johnny Gaudreau Over/Under 1.5 Points
• Elias Lindholm Over/Under 4.5 Shots on Goal

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could explain this in a lovely, short video?

In NHL betting, you can also bet parlays and teasers.

• Parlays combine multiple bets into one, potentially leading to larger payouts, but all bets within the parlay must win for the bet to succeed.
• Teaser bets allow bettors to adjust point spreads or totals, often involving at least two bets within the teaser, but both legs must win for the bet to pay out.

Key betting terms to remember:

• Moneyline: Representing the potential winnings when betting on a specific team.
• Total: This refers to the total number of points scored in the game.
• Puckline: Puckline betting in the NHL is a type of point spread bet where a standard point spread of 1.5 goals is applied to the game.

Tips For Becoming A Sharper NHL Bettor

There is sooo much information about betting on hockey games, and you don’t really need to know it all.

What’s important – if you are looking for a slight edge that is – is to do a little bit of research before you place your bet.

Know the teams. For example, know who’s coaching the team, keep tabs on player rotations, try to see if some of the key players have injuries, what team is home vs away, and so on. It might not seem like it’s important but some teams perform exceptionally well on home ice, while others struggle on the road.

You might turn to IG or TikTok to catch the latest player gossip. Basically, try to find any information that might affect the outcome of the game in a way that isn’t obvious.

Be careful how you manage your money. While it’s possible to strike it big, it’s equally easy to wipe your betting account clean, quickly. NHL season is a marathon, not a sprint (cliche, I know, but it’s true). So, you don’t have to bet on every game. The point is: define your bankroll strategy and stick to it – make the plan before you start betting.

Avoid emotional betting. It’s natural to have a favorite team or to be emotionally invested, but emotional bets aren’t nessicarly the smartest bets. Sort of like anything in life to be honest: when we can take the time to think logically about things we tend to make better decisions.

Don’t let personal bias or frustration dictate your bets. And don’t chase losses. Meaning, accept that losses happen, learn from them to see what you can do better next time, and move forward. NHL betting is about consistency over time, not quick fixes.

Keep track of your bets. Make a note each time you bet and write down how much money you bet, what teams were involved in the bets, and whether you won or not. You can use a spreadsheet or any of the online tools available. Again, this will help you get better at betting.

Understand line movement: Line movement is when the odds change. This could be the sportsbooks encouraging bets in a certain direction, or it might result from a substantial amount of money placed on one side. It’s sort of like watching a stock price move and making an investment against it.

Start small if you’re new: Most of us don’t bet all the time, and even if it’s not the first time you bet on sports, if it is your first time betting on a game in the NHL, it’s wise to start with smaller bets until you gain confidence and a better understanding of how it all works.

Starting small allows you to build your bankroll gradually, and as you become more comfortable, consider adjusting your unit sizes accordingly (up, hopefully, right?). This approach reduces the risk of significant losses while still learning the ropes.

OK that’s pretty much it! Let us know your betting tips and how you get on with your hockey bets this season!