Hockey Betting Guide

Ice hockey attracts millions of fans around the world. Some like to watch the games, and others prefer to earn some cash while watching them. So, if you are a sports bettor, this article will be very useful for you because our experienced editorial team has prepared a full hockey betting guide with descriptions and explanations of popular markets, tips on successful wagering, and more.

What is more, our betting guides are prepared specifically for every popular sport. If you wish to learn more facts about the specifics of modern betting, read the guide to betting written by our editorial team.

How to Make Hockey Bets

Making hockey bets is easy if you understand the betting markets and know some information about this sport, its rules, and other specifics, like team members, their strong and weak sides, and so on. The process of the bet placement is classic. You choose a bookmaker, create an account, and pick your games to predict who the winner is. But before you get to confirm your bet, it is most advised to examine the potential of an event to happen.

Types of Hockey Bets

There are plenty of types of predictions you can build. Your success depends mostly on your skills and the market you choose. If you visit any reliable and trusted bookmaker, like 1xBet, you will definitely see that the hockey betting section is full of various markets you cannot see for football and other games. In hockey, you can create money line spreads and over/under bets. Each of these groups contains several markets that are available for making a prediction.

Moneyline

Moneyline allows punters to predict the winner of the match or the tournament. It is one of the classic options where you can choose among the three possible outcomes. Bet on the home or away team to win or on a draw. However, besides the 3-way moneyline betting, there is also 2-way wagering, where the draw is excluded. Punters usually choose either of them when they find it suitable because it brings big winnings.

Spread/Puck Line Betting

Making a prediction on spread is one of the ways to diversify your wagering sessions. Here you need to guess the number of scored pucks. Usually, this number is -/+1.5 points. You can try your luck by betting on the underdog or take a bit lower odds and bet on the favorite.

The spread betting stands for handicap. This means that you can add an advantage or disadvantage to one of the teams to equalize their chances of winning. As a rule, the bookmaker establishes the strongest and the weakest team by appointing the odds and making the wagering more understandable for users who are not ready to do long research.

Total

By totals, a bookmaker understands the over/under market, where a player can bet on whether one of the teams will play out over or under a particular number. You can also see decimal numbers here, like 2.5. These numbers are provided by a bookmaker who made a full assessment of these teams to score more or less than this number.

A player can choose a team and the number of pucks it can score. It is obvious that there are no half-goals, but the bookmaker states such numbers for a reason. In our case, where we have 2.5, your team can win if you bet on a team to score under 2 or over 3 points.

Prop Betting

If you have failed to see proposition bets on your bookmaker’s platform, then you might have at least heard about them. Unlike moneylines, here, you can bet on particular events that happen within the gaming time. These occurrences do not influence the final match outcome, but they can still happen during the gameplay.

In most cases, a bookmaker will offer you the following choices:

• Team prop
• Player prop
• Game prop.

You can bet on some actions a player or team will do. For instance, on the number of goals a player or a team score during the first part of the match.

Parlay Bet

A parlay bet includes several single predictions combined into one bet. Therefore, you have a wonderful opportunity to bet on multiple events that happen in different games. Many bettors prefer to place parlay bets because they deliver bigger odds and, as a result, better winnings.

60-Minute Betting

It is a classic 6–6 minute moneyline, where you need to pick a winner or a tie of a particular game period. The game is divided into three periods of 60 minutes each, so you can decide whether, during one of these 3 parts of the gaming time, a home team or an away team will win or there will be a draw. The bet covers only the main time.

However, not only three ways bets are possible here. You can also choose a 2-way betting when choosing the corresponding market. Since this bet does not include overtime, you need to decide whether this type is suitable.

Grand Salami

The Grand Salami is probably one of the most exciting wagering types you can see while betting on hockey. What is the main thing here? 

You need to place a prediction on the number of points scored within several games given in one day. It is a great market that bookmakers use when they would like to maintain punters’ interest and engage them in something more alternative.

The Grand Salami is available only for several sports, including soccer, baseball, hockey, and some other sports. For example, if there are 10 games planned for a day, you can choose an over/under market where you need to guess the total number of points scored in total during the day with 55.5 odds. As it becomes clear from our previous explanations, such a number is chosen by the bookmaker because if you bet on “over,” the total score would be 56, and when you bet on “under,” the score would not exceed 55 points.

Futures Betting

In future betting, punters can make a prediction for the whole season or for some games within the season. It is very convenient and promises you a better chance of winning big. Normally, you make a prediction during the preseason when the odds are fixed.

However, by the end of the season, when all the games were played out, some injuries and other circumstances occurred, and the odds can vary. For example, when you bet long before the actual event, you have an opportunity to fix the coefficients that might change during the championships when a team buys new players or substitutes some and loses in odds.

Live/In-Play

One of the most favorable options is to use a live regime. It allows you to see what is going on and decide which prediction is more suitable. The majority of bookmakers’ platforms allow users to use this live regime for wagering. If you decide to bet in real-time, then you should know that usually, bookmakers allow bettors to make predictions on various markets from 1×2 to Over/Under markets.

Derivatives

We bet you have never heard about this type of betting if you are a newbie. So, this type of betting may include such options as teaser bets. The term can sometimes also include parlays and props since you are betting on some minor events that can occur during gaming time. Here, you can place a prediction on spreads or totals, deciding which player scores or misses how many pucks.

Recommendations on Hockey Betting Strategies

NHL sports betting is not the most difficult one due to the popularity of the game. Punters can create different bets and predictions here, from single to parlay. However, to make a successful stake, you can read our recommendations and see which one may enhance your daily wagering routing in NHL sports.

#1 Do the Research

First of all, research is a necessity every user must do. It allows you to understand how good the team’s performance was, who its coach was, and some other details. By observing the statistical reports and finding out more information about the skills and experience team members have, you can make a more accurate prediction. However, do not forget to explore the competing team data so your assessment is correct.

#2 Use Several Bookmakers’ Platforms

Wagering at a popular bookie’s platform will not guarantee you the best odds. You can try several eminent portals or register on them and place various bets on the same game. One of your predictions can certainly win, and you will get your reward. While you place predictions, you can also use the Martingale strategy; thus, you can even return other betted funds.

#3 Focus on Home Team Benefits

Professional bettors note that even a weak team can suddenly grab a victory if it plays at home. So, do not forget to consider this advantage when building a prediction. Here, you can try several betting markets, including the money line or even spreads.

#4 Learn About Injuries

Injuries in sports can significantly influence the team’s performance and affect the gameplay in a bad way. It may either cause changes in the team set, or if the sportsman’s injury is still cured, it can decrease their activity. That is why it is better to recheck which players were substituted and see what injuries they had.

#5 Explore Scores From Previous Matches

This point of the plan may sound similar to the first option, but it dives into the specifics and reminds you to observe the statistics of goals, total scores, and other data from previous games. It is even useful to check if the two teams already played together. Examine the information you receive and think about your prediction strategy.

#6 Check Out Who Is the Referee

Judging the match is a vital part of the game. Sure, there are rules that apply to every participant. However, the human factor still stands. The official judge of the tournament can still control the game the way they think is the best, so even the slightest violations can be noticed and influence the game. Find out more about previous performances of this person and read reviews.

The Best Hockey Championships

Hockey’s popularity led to the creation of different clubs and various leagues worldwide. Thanks to that, nowadays, there are plenty of eminent international and local championships where hockey is successfully played. Practically every country has its hockey league. So, be prepared to observe what tournaments and events are best to choose for your betting, where you can use all the named and previously explained markets.

Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics is one of the most famous tournaments that gathers sportsmen from different parts of the world and allows them to present their countries. The first games were in 1924 in France. They take place every several years and are held in different countries around the world. Since it is one of the most significant tournaments, bettors can find it available for wagering on many betting websites.

National Hockey League (NHL)

This is a French league that was formed in 1917 in North America. It includes 32 teams from the USA and 7 from Canada. The strongest teams compete for a Stanley Cup in the final game. It is considered the oldest and most eminent prize in this sport. The NHL league is the fifth professional league in the world. The season typically starts in October and lasts till April. Every team plays 82 games. If you prefer to bet on this league, you can choose any of the described markets and choose one to make your successful prediction.

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

It’s another world-famous league that was formed in 2008 by several Eurasian countries: China, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The league includes 23 teams, 20 from the Russian Federation and 1 from each of the other countries. In our list, KHL is the most privileged league where you can bet on multiple games using all the beneficial moments. About 15 million spectators watch these games live or via TV and Internet broadcasting.

National League (NL) Switzerland

The NL is a professional hockey league in Switzerland. It was formed in 1938 and ever since, it had changed several names until it became the National League. Before the 2018 season, it was known as the National League A. The league’s headquarters are located in Bern.

Normally, the 14 best teams participate in the competition. Each of them plays 52 games. Only 8 teams are in the playoff. You can bet on different markets here, including the ones we mentioned earlier. The league is rich with games and star players – you might like to choose for your betting.

Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL)

You can probably notice it as a Bundesliga on any of the sports betting platforms. It was founded in 1994. It is a professional German ice hockey league that includes 14 competing teams. DEL is ranked as the 3rd European league. Its participating teams compete in the Champions Hockey League, where the best teams can further play and win the main European trophy.

If you decide to place your lucky bet here, you have a huge variety of options, such as odds/even, over/under, top scorer, and many others. We recommend you pay attention to the odds offered by bookmakers. You can check several of them to find the best options for you.

Swedish Hockey League (SHL)

The league was formed in 1975 and traditionally includes 14 teams that were selected to compete for the main prize. It is considered one of the strongest European leagues. Since 1922, many Swedish ice hockey teams have been awarded with many trophies. After the league was created, it managed to produce many champions.

Punters can now find it on any bookmaker’s platform to place predictions on a variety of markets, from 1×2 to futures and overtime and other types of betting. As usual, we recommend our readers to observe several bookmakers to find the best offers for newbies and the highest odds.

Czech Extraliga (ELH)

It is the highest hockey league in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1993. The matches occur between September and April. As usual, 14 teams are playing against each other to win the main prize. To bet on any of the teams, find out more information about them and look through previous statistics.

You can find all the same markets as for other leagues. Choose what you like and place a bet. We advise you to check reliable and eminent sports betting platforms to find the best offer for bettors.

SM Liiga Finland

The league was formed in 1928 and is considered as one of the most prestigious in Europe. Its regular season allows each team to play 60 games. In total, it includes 15 teams that will compete with each other for first place and the main trophy. The league includes many eminent teams with their huge fan bases. Such huge love makes all matches within the league exciting and interesting.

High level of professional play and solid competition between the team of highly skilled players. It is possible to bet on various events within the league. Therefore, if you choose to place your lucky predictions, you can be sure that SM Liiga can offer you a huge variety of options.

Champions Hockey League

CHL is a major ice hockey tournament in the world. It was formed by 6 leagues, 26 clubs, and the International Ice Hockey Federation in 2014. It is one of the most exciting tournaments where you can enjoy placing predictions. All the games are played from August to February.

If you decide to bet on any of the events within the tournament, you will be pleased to choose among multiple markets. It is difficult to pick the best one, but you can try using the ones we described in our guide and make a profit.

How to Calculate Hockey Odds

The calculation of hockey odds is no different from the calculation for other sports. The main difference hides in how the odds are displayed so you can better understand them.

Pros and Cons of Hockey Betting

Hockey betting can be perfect if you are a true fan of this sport. But as much as you may like it, it still has some downsides and benefits. To simplify the task, we did our own research and will gladly display evidence in the table below: