NHL Betting
The National Hockey League (NHL) remains the most well-recognized and respected premier ice hockey professional league, anywhere in the world, with 32 different teams across Canada and the United States playing and an average of 391,000 viewers watching each game on TV.
Top NHL Betting Sites
Above, we’ve listed some of the best sportsbooks for NHL betting out there.
The welcome bonus that is offered to new bettors on each platform is worth your attention when making a decision who to place your bets with.
This welcome bonus varies in quantity across sportsbooks but today you can typically expect anywhere between 50% (half) to 100% (of your entire deposit) being offered as a welcome bonus.
NHL Betting: Types of Bet You Can Place
It’s time to get betting, but where to start? Here’s a rundown of the most common types of NHL betting wagers you can place.
Puck Line NHL Betting
A hockey puck line is similar to a goal spread bet in other sports. Bets are based on a +/- 1.5 goal spread, with the underdog having an advantage of +1.5 goals while the favourite as at a disadvantage of -1.5 goals. This is typical as some of the games come down to the wire and are not always high scoring.
Moneyline NHL Bets
Wagering on the Moneyline is simply betting on who you think will win the game (Team A or Team B).
Typically the favourites have lower odds against them winning compared to betting on an underdog which can provide significantly higher winnings if they pull it off.
Prop NHL Betting
Typically, these do not involve any major skills. An example could be the total number of goals that are scored. It is almost entirely a matter of chance, and hence, they are referred to as “prop” bets.
Of course, there are also the total or over/under bets which you must be aware of already.
Totals
This is the combined number of goals scored by both teams, including any overtime. You place a bet on whether the total goals will be over or under the number set by the sportsbook.
For example, if the O/U for Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers is 5.5, you’ll need at least 6 goals scored to win the over and a max of 5 goals scored between the pair to win the under.
In certain situations such as a shootout, the winning team is awarded one goal, which is considered for the game-winner and counts towards the game goal totals.
60-Minute Line
The 60-minute line is similar to the Moneyline bet, but only includes the result at the end of 3 periods. Turning the bet into a Three-way bet with the option of a tie. With the addition of a tie bet, it gives the better odds on either team but also runs the risk of the game going to overtime.
Parlays
A parlay bet is placing a bet on multiple outcomes to happen and requires all those outcomes to be correct to win. Parlays are much risker but offer high payouts because of the multiple bets all being correct.
For example, if you parlay $100 on Chicago BlackHawks and Colorado Avalanche, you’ll need both teams to win their games for you to win the parlay bet. If one loses, then you’ve lost the bet.
Grand Salami
Although it might sound mouth watering, we’re not talking about a particular sandwich you make while watching hockey. A ‘Grand Salami’ bet is essentially a Totals bet, whether the total number of goals scored across all the games on a particular day will be O/U the sportsbook predicated score. This is a popular bet amongst hockey fans, as it lets you have a slice of the action across all the games on a particular day.
For example, if there are 5 games on a given day, the posted Grand Salami total is 30. With total goals scored across the teams is 32 for example, the “over” on the Grand Salami line would payout. Anything below 30 of the total combination of goals scored, the “under” on the Grand Salami line would payout.
Futures
As the name suggests, this type of bet is based on possible outcomes in the future. An NHL futures bet is usually made on the current or upcoming season. It can be on a particular team winning the conference or who will lift the Stanley Cup! As the season unfolds the odds of the particular events will be continually adjusted. So make your bets early for the best chance of a high payout.
Conclusion
The NHL is as adrenaline-filled as US sports come, and it offers a wide array of betting opportunities as outlined above. For more ideas and info on NHL betting, check out our NHL odds and NHL consensus picks pages.