Guide: NHL betting tips for beginners and experienced players

Betting on NHL hockey is popular, but to be successful, it's important to understand the main aspects that govern the different betting markets. Here, we share some great tips that both beginners and experienced bettors can use. We cover everything from basic NHL betting tips, to more advanced betting options. We also discuss how to analyze NHL odds, what types of bets are available and how to maximize your chances of winning with the right betting tactics.

Betting tips for NHL ice hockey

The NHL stands for the National Hockey League and is the top professional ice hockey league in North America. Founded in 1917 in Montreal, it is now the most prestigious hockey league in the world. In total, it consists of 32 teams from both the United States and Canada.

Bet on elite hockey

Some of hockey's greatest legends, such as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, have played in the NHL. Betting on the NHL thus means betting on the world's biggest elite hockey. This requires bettors to be well versed in the game and able to identify which aspects of the game can affect the odds in a match. In other words, you need a robust betting strategy that can help improve your results over time.

Where to find the best betting tips?

There are plenty of resources online for those who want to take a deep dive into NHL betting tips and start crafting a good betting strategy. Reading expert analysis on various sports sites is a good starting point as it gives you a quick overview of which teams are in form as well as which players have performed best.

Beginner's guides can also be a good way to learn the basics of betting. These guides explain in a simple way how to interpret odds and the different types of bets available. For those who already know about betting and the NHL, more advanced strategies can be a way to take these skills to the next level.

Common NHL betting markets

Ice hockey is a popular sport with a loyal following, which has created many different betting markets.

Here are some of the most common betting markets for the NHL:

- Match winner (1X2): Bet on which team will win or if there will be a draw.

- Over/Under: Bet on the total number of goals scored in a match and whether the result will be above or below a certain number.

- Moneyline: et on which team will win or if there will be a draw (regular time).

- Period betting: Bet on what happens in a given period, for example which team scores the most goals.

- Goalscorer: Bet on which player will score during the match.

- First goalscorer: Bet on which player scores the first goal.

- Playoff results: Bet on which team will win the Stanley Cup.

- Number of shots on goal: Bet on whether a specific player fires a certain number of shots on goal.

- Number of penalties: Bet on the number of penalties during a match.

- Number of assists: Bet on whether a certain player scores a certain number of assists in the match.

- Other prop bets: Betting on specific events for a specific player.

Factors that can affect your betting strategy

By learning to identify the factors that can influence the outcome of a game, you can also become better at predicting results and sharpen your betting strategy. When choosing to bet on the NHL, there are several aspects to consider that are directly tied to the dynamics of the game itself. Some of these are:

- Player injuries: Injuries to individual players can have a major impact on the performance of the whole team.

- Home or away games: Some teams play better at home.

- Back-to-back: If the team plays its second game in two days, the chances of a loss increase if they face a team that has not played the day before.

- Form curves: Statistics on how the teams have performed in recent matches.

- Coach's decision: Changes in tactics can affect how the match unfolds.

- Playing style: Some teams are better at defense, while others are more offensive.

- Previous meetings between the teams: Previous matches can give an idea of how teams usually play against each other and which team has had the advantage.

The importance of statistics

Statistics should be a fundamental part of your betting strategy, especially when it comes to the NHL. Tracking stats for teams and star players can help you make more razor-sharp bets. The official NHL website and other sports sites like ESPN and Statmuse show detailed statistics for games, teams and players. When analyzing the stats, focus on specific aspects such as goal difference, power play efficiency and goalie save percentage.

What is powerplay efficiency?

Power play efficiency refers to a team's ability to score goals in a situation where the team has one or more players more on the ice due to the other team having a player sent off. It is then calculated as a percentage of the number of goals scored by a team on the power play in relation to the total number of power play opportunities. So it's important to keep track of which teams are above/below the 20% threshold this season.

For example:

If a team scores 20 goals on 100 powerplay opportunities, their powerplay efficiency is calculated to be 20%.

What is the save percentage for goalkeepers?

Goalie Save Percentage (SV%) measures how effective a goalie is at stopping pucks. Thus, this percentage shows how many shots the goalie has saved in relation to the total number of shots.

For example:

If a goalkeeper has made 30 saves on 35 shots, the calculation might look like this:

Save Percentage = (30 / 35) x 100 ≈ 85.71%

What role does the team line-up play?

The line-up can change very close to the match, which can also affect the odds. Therefore, it is important to keep track of the latest changes as soon as they are released. Knowing who plays in which lineup and who starts in goal (starter or backup) can be crucial for your betting strategy. These decisions are often only confirmed on the same day and sometimes just before the start of the match.

Draw-No-Bet - eliminate the risk of a draw

Draw-No-Bet is a betting strategy that aims to eliminate the risk of a draw. This means that if the match ends in a draw, you get your stake back. You only need to focus on picking the winner of the match, which gives you a little more security in your bet. In the NHL, Draw-No-Bet can be a smart way to limit the risk of loss. However, this type of bet can often have lower odds than, for example, 1X2.

Tips for live betting

Betting live means that you place a bet during the match. This type of betting differs from pre-match betting as the odds change constantly depending on what happens in the match. Sudden injuries, sending offs, goals and other momentum shifts mean you have to make quick decisions to take advantage of the changing odds. For example, the following scenarios can occur during the course of the game that change the odds:

- The favorite is behind: If the favorite is behind in the first period, you often get better odds on the game turning around and the team winning. So if you still believe in the favorite, it might be a good time to bet.

- Betting on send offs: If one team has a player sent off, it can increase the odds of the other team scoring the next goal.

- Injuries during the match: If a key player (for example, the first center or goalkeeper) is forced to leave the game due to injury, the odds may change. A team that was previously a big favorite is now more likely to lose depending on when this occurs.

Strategic thinking helps you avoid impulse betting

By learning the rules of NHL ice hockey and following the experts' betting tips and statistics, you can make more informed decisions. Compare different odds and choose the betting options that can potentially increase your chances of winning. Avoid impulse bets by having a well-planned bankroll. Another good tip is to create a budget for how much you want to bet and stick to it, regardless of how the matches go. By spreading your bankroll over several bets, you can often reduce the risk of big losses.