Ice Hockey is the world's most prestigious ice hockey association. It was founded on May 15, 1908 in New Zealand and now has 54 members in the United States and elsewhere. As we all know, ice hockey is one of the most entertaining, to say the least, and one of the most physical sports around. So it is no surprise that the potential to make money betting on this type of sport has spread over the years to several countries in and around the hockey powerhouses such as the United States and Canada.
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How Do You Bet on Hockey?
Prepare to enter the realm of NHL betting where outcomes are far from certain. The first piece of advice for anyone thinking about betting on NHL games is that nothing is a sure thing. You can study the strategies and take advice from various online experts. But without an understanding of the fundamentals, your work will be for naught. And as with any betting endeavor, it's crucial to pay attention. We've compiled the most popular lines for betting on NHL games that you can use during the preseason, throughout the regular season, and right up until the moment the Stanley Cup is hoisted.
- NHL Futures - You can place an NHL bet on the hockey team with the best odds to win the Stanley Cup before the competition even begins.
- This bet should be supported by the team's previous performance in last season's tournament.
- Moneyline Explained - For bets on specific NHL games, you can pick the team with the strongest roster to win.
- NHL Picks and Parlays - each online bookmaker will offer odds on the most competitive games of the round.
- Select multiple hockey games to bet on and watch your returns grow. You can pick as many games as you like, and with so many possible outcomes, your payout can really add up.
- Puck Lines - this is the version of hockey handicapping where oddsmakers try to balance the scales by predicting the winner of the game as well as the score.
NHL Betting Tips
The National Hockey League runs from October to June each year. Players have ample opportunity to correct unsuccessful bets. The advantage of betting on hockey online is that you can get a general idea of how your fellow bettors are behaving. This is thanks to the numerous forums dedicated to breaking down NHL bets and offering betting advice on a daily basis. These forum discussions are usually led by a star-studded cast of tipsters who have long since earned the trust of the betting community. Who exactly are these tipsters, and how have they earned the right to make such bold claims?
- To begin, sports bettors should focus on one conference and delve into the various teams that make up that conference, developing a thorough understanding of them. From there, you can move outward.
- Point spread betting in the NHL is the most sought after of all bets you will find. Place a wager on the NHL scores and watch your wager skyrocket.
- Spread bettors need to understand the different periods of a hockey game. A hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods. Bets can be placed on any single period or on all periods combined.
- When placing your bets, keep the NHL schedule in mind. Some teams are simply better at home than on the road. Others, for one reason or another, just can't seem to pull off the big win when the game is played away from their friendly confines.
NHL Betting Odds
Betting on hockey online has proven to be far more favorable than in brick and mortar betting shops. Of course, the punter looking to bet on the NHL will find that the top New Zealand betting sites display odds in decimal format. If you're not familiar with how these odds are calculated, allow me to explain and illustrate.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2.00) vs. Los Angeles Kings (1.50)
This means that the oddsmakers have marked the Kings as the team to beat in this tie against the Penguins. If you were to place a bet and wager $100, you could find the potential payout by multiplying that $100 by the odds. You would be paid a little extra for picking the Kings to win this game. You can bet on games like this in the NHL from September through June.
Below is a complete list of the NHL divisions that you will come across when placing bets on NHL games at online sportsbooks. These divisions serve not only as geographical markers, but also as crucial components of the league's competitive structure, determining how teams interact during the regular season and playoffs.
- Eastern Conference
- Eastern Conference Metropolitan
- Western Conference Pacific
- Western Conference
- Eastern Conference Atlantic
- Western Conference Central
Past Stanley Cup Winners
Here’s a list of the most recent winners of the Stanley Cup Championship:
| Season | Winner | Conference |
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | Western Conference |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Eastern Conference |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Eastern Conference |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | Western Conference |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | Eastern Conference Metropolitan |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Eastern Conference |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Eastern Conference |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | Western Conference Central |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings | Western Conference Pacific |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks | Western Conference Central |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings | Western Conference Pacific |
| 2011 | Boston Bruins | Eastern Conference Atlantic |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks | Western Conference Central |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Eastern Conference |
| 2008 | Detroit Red Wings | Eastern Conference Atlantic |