Hockey betting strategies can range from simple rules to stick by to complex statistical analysis, helping everyone regardless of how they bet. It’s always better to have a strategy when betting on hockey—who wants to go into a wager blind and without a plan?
In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the best ice hockey betting tips, helping you maximize your profits and minimize your losses when you gamble.
What is Hockey Betting?
For those wondering how to bet on ice hockey, we’ve got you covered. Simply put, hockey betting involves wagering on hockey games. This isn’t limited to just betting on games either; you can wager on everything from point totals to individual player stats.
Types of Hockey Bets
- Moneyline: Bet on which team will win the game outright.
- Puck Line: Similar to a point spread, bet on a team to win by a specific number of goals.
- Over/Under: Predict whether the total number of goals scored in a game will be over or under a set number.
- Player Props: Bet on individual player performances, such as goals, assists, or points.
- Futures Bets: Long-term bets on future events, like which team will win the Stanley Cup or a division title.
- Live Betting: Place bets on games in real-time as the action unfolds.
Popular Hockey Betting Strategies
There are a few popular ice hockey betting tips that even new bettors can understand; these include:
- Moneyline Strategy: Focus on consistent winning teams, especially those with strong home-ice advantage.
- Puck Line Strategy: Target underdogs with strong defensive systems or teams playing against weaker opponents.
Line Shopping for the Best Odds
First and foremost, every bettor should be shopping around, looking for the best lines possible by comparing odds across different sportsbooks. While it may seem simple, going around and making sure you are using the best odds out there will usually trump any old NHL betting strategy.
Bankroll Management
At the end of the day, you can’t bet without some money to start with, making bankroll management super important. Set a specific budget for your hockey betting, and avoid risking more than a small percentage of your bankroll on any single bet.
Fading the Public
In simple terms, fading the public involves betting against popular opinion. If a particular team or outcome is overwhelmingly favored, it might be worth throwing in a small bet on the opposite side, seeing as the payout will be massive. Popular opinion is rarely 100% correct.
Advanced Hockey Betting Strategies
For more advanced bettors, consider these strategies:
- Advanced Analytics: Utilize advanced statistics like Corsi, Fenwick, and expected goals to identify teams with a statistical advantage.
- Arbitrage Betting: Take advantage of ice hockey betting systems with pricing discrepancies between different sportsbooks to place risk-free bets.
- Prop Betting: Bet on specific player performances, such as goals, assists, or shots on goal.
Hockey Betting Tips for Beginners
Bet on What You Know
Realistically, when you’re just starting with betting, try to stick to teams and players you’re familiar with. It’s much better than any run-of-the-mill hockey betting strategy, as when you follow your hometown team, for example, you’ll have a better understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and recent performance.
Avoid Emotional Betting
It should go without saying that betting when your emotions are high can lead you to financial ruin in no time, as a couple of poor choices can really mess up your wallet. Try your best to stay objective and base your bets on data and analysis instead of some gut feeling or, heaven forbid, some ridiculous potential payout from a parlay.
Research the Goalies
One common area hockey bettors usually forget about is how important the goalie is in the grand scheme of things, even more so than in many other sports. Goalies can significantly impact the outcome of a hockey game, both for the better and the worst.
Consider goalie factors like:
- Workload: A goalie who has played many games recently may be more fatigued.
- Matchups: Some goalies perform better against certain teams or players.
- Injuries: Even minor injuries can affect a goalie’s performance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Hockey Betting
Ignoring Home-Ice Advantage
Just like in any other sport, home-ice vantage is a huge deal in hockey, especially in key moments like the NHL playoffs. Playing in front of your home crowd and hearing them chant your name is super important, especially if the team is down.
In certain cities at high elevations like Colorado, the home team will also have a conditioning advantage, as the thinner air can affect teams from the coastal areas.
Overvaluing Favorites
While favorites do win in most cases, we as hockey fans overvalue them, oftentimes to our own detriment. Sometimes, underdogs can surprise and outperform expectations, especially if they have a strong goaltender or are motivated to prove themselves.
Not Considering Injuries and Line Changes
If you’re not looking at team lineups before each game you bet on, you’re doing yourself a massive disservice, as you’re really going in blind. Imagine you wager on a team like the Edmonton Oilers only to find out Connor McDavid is out, effectively halving the team’s overall offensive output.
At the bare minimum, make sure key players aren’t out of the lineup; it’s easier to do your due diligence than to burn a hole in your wallet.
How to Bet on NHL Playoff Games
- Sign up with a Reputable Sportsbook like 20Bet: Choose a licensed and regulated sportsbook like 20Bet that offers competitive odds and a user-friendly platform.
- Deposit Funds: Fund your account using a secure payment method.
- Choose Your Wager: Select the type of bet you want to place, such as a money line, puck line, over/under, or player prop.
- Place Your Bet: Input your wager amount and confirm your bet.
- Monitor Your Bet: Track the progress of your bet and the live odds.
- Withdraw Your Winnings: If your bet is successful, withdraw your winnings using your preferred payment method.
Low Scoring
Let’s not forget that hockey is easily one of the lowest-scoring major spots in the world, especially during playoff games. It’s not like basketball, where scores can drive up into the hundreds with no issue.
Seriously consider betting on underdogs with airtight defensive lineups or teams with an overwhelming goaltender. You can find some great bargain bets in the places you would least expect.
Bet on Experience and Star Players
Experienced players and star players can significantly impact a game’s outcome both for the better and worse. If you’re new, we would recommend betting on skilled players who perform well under pressure, as these superstars can take over games and lead their teams to victory.
Hockey Betting Tools and Apps
You would be a fool to not make full use of all the latest tools and platforms providing hockey odds tips and general guidance. Instead of painstakingly going through player by player, analyzing performances, there are plenty of tools with advanced stats, player performance data, and real-time updates.
Conclusion
We can all agree hockey betting can definitely be a potentially lucrative and thrilling hobby, but it needs a strategic approach. You can’t expect to walk away with bags of cash if you don’t understand the fundamentals of the game and how you can maximize your chances of winning.
However, with thorough research and utilizing effective betting strategies, you can boost your chances of long-term success 10 fold. Just make sure you stay updated on the latest news, injuries, and lineups so you’re never betting with old information.
