The NHL is a hot ticket for fans and bettors alike, and here's why it's a big deal. Ice Hockey brings fast-paced action, intense rivalries, and unpredictable outcomes are being taken to the next level through NHL betting.
On this page, you'll discover a goldmine of information that will enhance your NHL betting journey. Whether it is NHL betting predictions or expert insights, odds comparisons, or Ice Hockey betting tips, you will find everything under one roof
So, start your NHL betting journey with Cricket Expert.
What is the NHL?
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a premier professional ice hockey league consisting of 32 teams, with 25 based in the United States and 7 in Canada. It's home to the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional sports trophy, awarded annually to the league's playoff champion.
Renowned as the top-ranked professional ice hockey league globally, the NHL consists of players from 17 countries in the 2023–24 season. Its significance extends beyond North America as it is also recognised by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) as one of the most prestigious championships in the sport. As a major league in both the United States and Canada, the NHL holds a prominent position among professional sports leagues and sports betting enthusiasts.
NHL games consist of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes, with standard rules governing goals, penalties, and gameplay. Teams aim to outscore their opponents by shooting the puck into the opposing team's net while defending their own.
The top teams from each division secure playoff matches, competing in a series of elimination rounds until two teams face off in the Stanley Cup Finals, where the ultimate champion is cronwed.
While the NHL is rooted in North America, it attracts players from all over the world, adding an international flavour to the league. When it comes to the fanbase, NHL fans are some of the most passionate in sports.
How Does an Ice Hockey Match Work?
An ice hockey match unfolds on a rink, typically measuring 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. The game consists of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes of play, with breaks in between.
The rink features blue lines, red lines, goal creases, and face-off circles, creating distinct zones for gameplay.
Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about ice hockey matches, including often-used terms.
- Teams: Each team fields six players at a time, comprising a goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards.
- Objective: The aim is to score goals by shooting a rubber puck into the opponent's net while preventing them from doing the same.
- Face-offs: The game begins with a face-off at center ice, where the puck is dropped, initiating play. Face-offs also occur after stoppages in play.
- Scoring: Goals are scored when the puck crosses the goal line into the net. A typical scoreline might be 3-2, 4-1, etc., reflecting the number of goals each team has scored.
- Penalties: Penalties are issued for infractions like tripping, high-sticking, or holding. When a player commits a penalty, they're sent to the penalty box for a specified amount of time, leading to a power play for the opposing team.
- Power Play: A power play occurs when a team has more players on the ice due to the opposing team's penalty. This gives the advantaged team an opportunity to score with fewer defenders.
- Icing and Offsides: Icing happens when a player shoots the puck from the side of the red line across the opponent's goal line without anyone touching it. Offsides occur when an attacking player enters the opponent's zone before the puck, leading to a stoppage in play.
- Overtime and Shootouts: If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, there might be an overtime period followed by a shootout to determine the winner.
How to Bet on the NHL?
If you're new to betting on the NHL, it's super important to know how to make your first bet. It's also really helpful to understand the different kinds of bets you can make.
In this guide, we'll explain, in simple steps, how you can place your very first bet on the NHL.
- Research Bookmakers: Look for reputable betting site that offer NHL betting options. Check reviews, payment methods, bonuses, and odds offered.
- Sign Up: Register an account on the chosen sportsbook's website or app. Fill in your details accurately and verify your account as required.
- Deposit Money: Once your account is set up, deposit funds using various payment methods available on the platform.
- Find NHL Section: Navigate to the sportsbook and find NHL. Here, you'll find various betting markets for upcoming NHL games.
- Explore Betting Markets: Familiarize yourself with different bet types such as matchwinner, handicap betting, totals (over/under), and prop bets (individual player performances, period-specific outcomes, etc.).
- Select Your Bets: Analyse the odds for different games and betting options. Choose the bets you want to place bets on.
- Place Your Wager: Enter the amount you want to bet on your chosen selections. Double-check your bet slip before confirming the wager.
- Confirmation: After confirming your bet, keep track of it. Monitor the game and track your bets' progress.
- Withdraw Your Winnings: If your bet wins, you can withdraw your winnings using the withdrawal methods provided by the bookmaker.
As you may notice, placing a bet on an ice hockey match is straightforward and similar to betting on other sports. However, the specific bet types for ice hockey is where it gets really interesting.
Most Popular Ice Hockey Betting Markets
Ice hockey betting offers a variety of markets to cater to different preferences and strategies. These bet types are often different from the bets you usually place on cricket or football.
Make sure to read through the popular bet types below and pick the one that suits you best.
Here are some of the most popular NHL betting markets:
Matchwinner: This is the simplest bet, focusing on the game's outright winner. You pick which team will win the game in regulation time. Odds are set based on each team's chances to win the match.
Totals (Over/Under): This bet focuses on the total number of combined goals scored by both teams. You bet on whether the total score will be over or under a set number determined by the bookmaker.
Period Betting: You can bet on outcomes within specific periods (typically each of the three periods). This includes predicting the winner of a period or the total goals scored in a particular period.
Regulation Time Bets: These bets focus solely on the outcome during the regulation 60 minutes of play, excluding overtime and shootouts. It's a straightforward way to bet on the standard game duration.
Team and Player Bets: These bets revolve around specific team or player performances. This includes over/under on a team's total goals or assists for a player in a game.
Props Bet: These bets that don't necessarily relate to the game's final outcome. Popular prop bets include predicting the first team to score, individual player performances (such as goals or assists), or even the method of the first goal scored.
NHL Betting Tips
Want to boost your NHL betting game? Check out these top tips and strategies that can help you win some big money during your NHL betting adventure.
Here are some NHL betting tips that can help you improve your odds of winning, as well as making more profitable bets.
- Don't excessively large bets. A common rule is to wager between 1-5% of your total betting budget on a single bet to minimise risk.
- Familiarise yourself with different betting markets. Expanding your bets across various markets can lower down risk.
- Use the live betting option to your advantage by observing gameplay trends and fluctuations in odds during the game.
- If circumstances change during a game, consider hedging your bets. This involves placing additional bets to offset potential losses or secure guaranteed profits.
- Avoid chasing losses or making emotional bets. Stick to your strategy and avoid impulsive bets to prevent unnecessary risks.
- Avoid rushing into bets without adequate information. Allocate sufficient time for research and analysis.
NHL Betting Lines Explained
NHL betting lines consist of various odds formats, with the primary ones being the Moneyline and Decimal Odds.
Moneyline odds are prevalent in North America and represent the odds of a team winning a game outright.
Positive odds (+) indicate the potential profit on an INR 100 bet, while negative odds (-) represent the amount needed to wager to win INR 100.
Example: Detroit Red Wings at +150 means an INR 100 bet wins INR 150 profit, while Florida Panthers at -120 requires an INR 120 bet to win INR 100 profit.
Decimal odds are the common odds type in India and most other parts of the world. Decimal odds represent the total payout (including the stake).
Example: Imagine Boston Bruins are at odds 2.50. This will mean an INR 100 bet returns INR 250 (INR 150 profit + INR 100 stake), while Buffalo Sabres at odds 1.83 returns INR 183 for the same stake (INR 83 profit + INR 100 stake).
While Moneyline odds are the most popular odd type for betting on ice hockey, we recommend switching to decimal odds, as they are easier to read and understand.
Luckily, most bookmaker offer this option on their platform in your account settings.
Best Ice Hockey Betting Sites
When exploring the best NHL betting sites, it's crucial to consider various factors. Always look for a safe and legit bookmaker before you start your NHL betting journey.
Here are some top betting sites you should consider while doing NHL betting.
Megapari
Megapari offers amazing NHL coverage with a wide range of betting markets, competitive odds, etc. The bookmaker excels in live betting as well. They make sure you enjoy betting on the NHL with their in-play option.
Although there are no specific NHL bonuses on the platform, Megapari makes sure that you can use their welcome bonus while betting on the NHL.
Apart from ice hockey, Megapari offers coverage of various sports globally, including cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and plenty more.
Bons
Bons India is another bookmaker that covers NHL on its platform. The bookmaker's live betting platform is well-designed, offering live odds, quick updates, and various in-play betting options for NHL games.
Bons offers a solid range of NHL betting markets along with amazing odds. Bons also makes sure to give a generous welcome bonus for your NFL betting adventure. Make sure to make use of it!
The bookmaker covers major sports like cricket, football, basketball, baseball, and tennis, along with niche sports, to make your betting journey worthwhile.
1xBet
1xBet is another popular betting platform known for its extensive coverage of sports, including NHL hockey. The bookmaker provides a plethora of betting markets, such as matchwinner and totals, along with various prop bets.
You will also love the odds along with the 1xBet welcome bonus on their website and mobile app. Not to forget their live betting option comes up in various betting markets as well.
1XBet is definitely worth considering for placing ice hockey bets!
