NHL Picks - NHL Betting Picks and Predictions

The Ultimate NHL Betting Guide 2023: How and Where to Bet on NHL Games

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the world’s premier professional ice hockey league, giving elite athletes from all over the globe a chance to showcase their talents and abilities to tens of millions of passionate fans. With its consistently thrilling gameplay and intense rivalries, the NHL only continues to grow in popularity and expand its fanbase.

As sports betting becomes more widely available in the United States and beyond, many hockey enthusiasts are eager to get in on the action. If you’re ready to begin your sports betting journey or interested in learning more about the exciting world of NHL betting, then you’ve come to the right place!

NHL Betting Guide 2023

Welcome to the ultimate guide for betting on the NHL! Whether you’re a diehard hockey fan or just looking for a new sports betting market to explore, this comprehensive guide is designed to provide valuable insights and tips to enhance your overall betting experience.

We’ll explore the different types of wagers available to hockey bettors while also taking a closer look at NHL betting trends and how we can use them to our advantage. In addition, we’ll cover the best NHL betting sites and offer some useful strategies you can implement to increase your probability of success. Now, let’s get started!

NHL Betting Lines: How to Read Them and Make the Right Bet

NHL betting lines and odds can seem pretty intimidating at first glance. However, once you get started, you’re sure to catch on fairly quickly. With our help, you’ll be a sports betting expert in no time and the guy all your friends seek out for advice on NHL wagers!

Understanding and interpreting the three major types of wagers in hockey (puck lines, moneylines, and over/under totals) is essential for making well-informed wagers and maximizing your chances of success.

Understanding NHL Point Spreads

NHL point spreads, commonly referred to as puck lines, represent the handicap or advantage given to a team to help even up the odds when placing a bet. A “-” sign represents the number of goals a team is favored to win by, while a “+” sign represents the number of goals by which a team is projected to lose.

For example, the Boston Bruins may be 1.5-goal favorites (i.e., -1.5) against their divisional rival Montreal Canadiens. If you placed a wager on the Bruins to cover the spread, you would need them to win by two or more goals for the wager to be successful. On the other hand, if you chose the Canadiens to cover the spread, your bet would be a winner if they won outright or lost by only one goal.

Moneyline Wagers in NHL Betting

Hockey bettors will also have the option to predict the winner of a matchup, without considering the margin of victory or defeat, by placing a moneyline bet. It is important to understand that betting on underdogs offers the potential for a greater payout than betting on favorites, but there is typically a lower probability of success.

Negative moneyline odds are designated by a “-” sign and represent the amount you will need to bet to win a total of $100. For instance, if you place a $200 wager on the Pittsburgh Penguins to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning at -200 odds, you would earn a total payout of $100, plus the amount of your initial stake, if your wager was successful.

On the other hand, positive moneyline odds are designated by a “+” sign and represent the amount of money you will win on a $100 wager. For instance, if you were to place a $100 bet on the Colorado Avalanche to beat the Edmonton Oilers at +250 odds, you would win a total of $250 if your bet was a winner.

Over/Under Wagers in NHL Betting

NHL fans may also choose to bet on the total combined number of goals in a given matchup by placing an over/under wager. These are great betting options when you’re unsure which team will come out on top or by how many goals a team will win in their matchup.

Let’s say the over/under total for a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks is set at 5.5 goals. If you chose to bet the over, your wager would be a winner if the Red Wings and Blackhawks combined for six goals or more. However, if five goals or fewer were scored, then your bet would be unsuccessful.

NHL Betting Trends: Increase Your Odds!

NHL betting trends provide valuable insights into team records, head-to-head outcomes, scoring trends, and much more to help you make informed decisions for a higher probability of winning. Examining betting trends in the NHL can involve looking at historical trends, statistical analysis, studying individual player and team performance, and looking at line movements and public betting percentages.

The history of hockey betting trends traces back to the early days of sports wagering when bettors began to notice patterns and tendencies that can be used to predict the outcome of upcoming games.

A few general examples of current NHL betting trends that have emerged this season and over the past few years include road teams outperforming home teams against the spread, underdogs managing to cover against favorites in NHL matchups, and goals being scored at a higher rate.

Types of NHL Bets

There are countless ways for you to bet on all your favorite players and teams across the league. Some of the different options you’ll have for betting on the NHL are listed and explained below.

Moneyline Bets

Moneyline wagers are the simplest type of bet you can make and involve picking the winner of a game. The sportsbook will set odds based on each team’s likelihood of finishing on top, with bets on favorites offering lower potential payouts than bets on underdogs.

In addition, three-way moneylines are commonly offered, meaning you will have three potential options to choose from for the outcome of any given game at the end of regulation: a home team win, a road team win, or a tie. If you place a three-way moneyline bet on one of the two teams and they need overtime to claim the victory, then your wager would be unsuccessful.

Puck Line Bets

Puck line bets are hockey’s version of the point spread. Favorites are given a handicap, while underdogs are given an advantage to even up the odds. If you choose to take the favorite, they will need to win by two or more goals, depending on the puck line for the game, to cover the spread. On the other hand, if you take the underdog, your bet will be successful if they win the game outright or lose by fewer goals than projected by the sportsbook.

Over/Under Bets

Over/under bets involve predicting the total number of goals scored by two teams in a matchup. The NHL betting site will set a projected total, and you will have the option to bet the over or the under. Like puck line bets, over/under wagers typically offer roughly the same potential payout for either option you choose.

NHL Futures Bets

Bettors will also have the opportunity to place futures bets on the outcome of events well ahead of time. Common examples of futures bets in the NHL include the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy, Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender), Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player), and Stanley Cup Finals.

NHL Prop Bets

You may be interested in placing NHL prop bets, which are typically unrelated to the final outcome of the game. This can include betting on individual player performances (e.g., goals scored, assists, or saves), team statistics (e.g., power-play goals, or shots on goals), or somewhat random in-game occurrences (e.g., predicting the final score or who will score the first goal).

NHL Parlay Bets

Parlay bets allow you to combine multiple wagers in an attempt to earn a bigger payout. However, parlays are only successful if every individual bet is a winner, meaning nine of ten correct legs in a parlay would offer no payout on your initial stake. Players can build a parlay with wagers from the same or different games while also using a wide range of different bet types.

NHL Live Betting

Lastly, NHL live betting allows you to place in-game wagers during the action, with odds being updated in real-time to reflect goals scored, momentum shifts, time remaining, and other factors that contribute to the likelihood of a particular outcome. Many sportsbooks also give you the ability to cash out wagers before they are settled in order to secure your winnings or cut your losses.

NHL Betting Strategies: Tips and Tricks for Winning!

Although every hockey bettor has their own unique style and strategy that works best for them, there are plenty of basic guidelines and common strategies that can potentially give you an advantage. A few tips and tricks to help increase your chances of success are provided below.

• Do Your Research: It’s important to do thorough research on all players and teams involved in the matchup before placing your bet. This includes being aware of injuries or suspensions that prevent key performers from suiting up, using advanced stats to make well-informed decisions, and seeking out betting trends that you can use to your advantage.
• Find Your Specialty: You should try to determine your area of expertise, which could be a specific player, team, or type of wager. Finding your specialty will allow you to devote more time to researching that particular betting market and could give you the competitive edge you’ve been looking for.
• Look for Scheduling Advantages: Pay close attention to teams’ schedules. Rest days, back-to-back games, and extended road trips can all impact a team’s performance on the ice. Identifying scheduling advantages or disadvantages can be a valuable factor in making your betting decisions.
• Manage Your Bankroll: Setting a budget and managing your bankroll effectively is crucial for long-term success in NHL betting. You should only wager what you can afford to lose and avoid chasing losses by increasing your bets after a losing streak.
• Shop for the Best Odds: Different sportsbooks may offer slightly different odds for the same game or wager. Taking the time to compare odds across multiple platforms can result in significantly higher payouts for winning bets.
• Don’t Overvalue Home Ice: Home-ice advantage has proven to not be as influential on the outcome of games as it is in other professional sports leagues such as the NBA or NFL. That said, there are always exceptions, so pay close attention to each team’s level of success at home and on the road.
• Ride Momentum: Hockey, like all sports, is often a game of momentum. Keep an eye out for teams on winning streaks or those who have recently performed well against good competition, and don’t be afraid to ride the wave with them.
• Take Advantage of Live Betting: If you choose to take advantage of NHL in-game betting opportunities, you’ll be able to place wagers at favorable moments by observing the game’s flow, momentum shifts, and updated odds.

If you’re interested in receiving advice on NHL games throughout the regular season and playoffs, you can sign up to receive free picks as well as future updates and promotional offers to help enhance your overall betting experience! In addition, you can choose to use our expert advice to place a bet that is well-informed and based on thorough research and statistical analysis.

Best NHL Betting Sites: Where and How to Place Your Bet

Luckily for hockey fans, there are plenty of reputable, high-quality sportsbooks in the United States that give you an opportunity to bet on all your favorite players and teams in the NHL. Here are five of your top options:

Sportsbook	Welcome Offer	Best Feature
DraftKings	Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets	Exciting Promotional Offers & Bonus Opportunities
FanDuel	No Sweat First Bet Up to $2,500	Top-Tier Mobile App
BetMGM	$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets If You Don’t Win!	Phenomenal Live Betting Experience
Caesars	Go Full Caesar: Get Up to $1,250 Back in Bonus Bets	Fantastic Customer Rewards Program
BetRivers	Second Chance Bet Up to $500	Incredible Market Depth

DraftKings Sportsbook

If you enjoy frequent promotional offers and bonus deals, DraftKings Sportsbook is the perfect option for you. All users will have access to odds surges, profit boosts, same-game parlay insurance, referral bonuses, and much more!

Not to mention, the generous welcome offer provided by DraftKings guarantees all new customers $150 in bonus bets as soon as they sign up and place any wager of $5 or more. These incredible opportunities only add to the excitement and will greatly enhance your overall user experience.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel has arguably the best mobile app among U.S. sportsbooks, providing a user-friendly and reliable platform to all NHL fans and sports betting enthusiasts. The FanDuel Sportsbook app is very well-designed and allows bettors to navigate seamlessly between different betting markets, account information, and promotional deals.

Hockey fanatics who choose to join the FanDuel community will also have access to a wide range of alternative lines and totals as well as an unmatched selection of prop bets that can be used to build parlays and same-game parlays on any given matchup.

BetMGM Sportsbook

The live betting experience offered by BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the best in the industry, as the platform offers customers competitive odds on a wide range of bet types during every NHL game. As a result, users will have the opportunity to place wagers in real-time as they see fit based on the game's progress, momentum shifts, and updated odds.

BetMGM offers live streaming of games to help you keep track of all your bets and keep up with all the action while on the go. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the Early Cash Out feature that allows you to lock in winnings or cut losses at any point during the game. If you’re looking for an exciting and immersive in-game betting experience, BetMGM Sportsbook is the place to go.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook is another great option for NHL bettors. One of the most reliable and established names in the world of sports betting, Caesars is highly regarded for its excellent customer service, user-friendly mobile app, and great selection of daily odds boosts on a wide range of sports and leagues.

In addition, the platform’s incredible customer loyalty program rewards you with every wager you make, as you’ll have the opportunity to earn bonus bets, gift cards to your favorite brands and retailers, hotel accommodations and dining experiences at Caesars Entertainment resorts, and much more!

BetRivers Sportsbook

Last but not least, BetRivers is another top betting site that deserves your consideration. Frequent promotional deals, a beginner-friendly platform, and speedy payouts are just a few of the features that have helped BetRivers rapidly grow in popularity over the last few years.

The sportsbook covers a variety of different markets, allowing you to bet on sports and leagues from all over the world, and provides substantial first-bet insurance to all new users on any game of their choice.

NHL Betting Explanations: Everything You Need to Know

When you first get started, there’s sure to be some sports betting lingo with which you are unfamiliar. Some of the most important terms and phrases for NHL bettors to know, along with their definitions, are provided in the table below.

Term/Phrase	Definition
Puck Line	Hockey’s equivalent of a point spread.
Double Chance	A lower-risk wager on a team to either win their matchup or be tied at the end of regulation.
Grand Salami	A bet on the total number of goals scored across all hockey games on a particular day.
Period Betting	Placing bets on the outcome of a period rather than the entire game.
Juice/Vig	The commission or fee charged by a sportsbook when placing a wager.
3-Way Bet (or 1x2 Bet)	A wager on one of three possible outcomes at the end of regulation: home team wins, road team wins, or tie.
Betting Unit	The percentage of one’s bankroll used on a standard wager.
Push	The result when the betting line matches the exact outcome, meaning all bets are refunded.
Bad Beat	A situation in which a bettor loses a wager in an unexpected or heartbreaking manner, typically due to a late-game goal or significant turn of events.

Conclusion

We’ve covered how NHL betting odds work, what types of wagers are offered, the best sportsbooks on the market, important strategies to implement, and several other important topics for both new and experienced bettors. Now you’re ready to get in on the action!

Choose a betting site that fits your personal preferences and individual betting needs, sign up up for an account, make your first deposit, and start betting on all your favorite players and teams across the league. Remember to do your research, stay disciplined, and have fun!

NHL Betting FAQ

1. How and where do I bet on NHL games?
   You can start betting on NHL games by signing up with DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, or any other sportsbook available in your state and making your first deposit on the platform.
2. What are the most popular types of NHL bets?
   The most popular types of NHL bets include money lines, puck lines, and over/under totals. Other options available to bettors include parlays, teasers, futures, prop bets, and more.
3. What are NHL betting trends?
   NHL betting trends are specific patterns or tendencies that can be used to make well-informed wagers and predict player performance and team success.
4. What are some NHL betting strategies?
   A few basic NHL betting strategies include doing your research, riding momentum, finding your specialty, and looking for scheduling advantages.
5. What is a moneyline bet in the NHL?
   An NHL moneyline wager allows bettors to predict which team will win in a given matchup. 3-way moneyline bets, in particular, involve picking between a home team win, a road team win, and a tie at the end of regulation time.
6. How do NHL point spreads work?
   NHL point spreads, commonly known as puck lines, are set by a sportsbook based on the number of goals a team is projected to win or lose by in a matchup. The favorite is assigned a handicap, meaning they will need to win by a certain number of goals to cover the spread. Meanwhile, the underdog is given an advantage, meaning they will cover the spread if they win the game outright or lose by less than the projected number of goals.
7. What are NHL futures bets?
   NHL futures bets are long-term predictions on various outcomes in the league. For example, you could place a futures wager on which team will win the Stanley Cup Finals or which player will win the MVP Award.
8. What are NHL prop bets, and how do prop bets work?
   Prop bets are wagers on events that do not necessarily affect the outcome of a game. You can place prop bets on player statistics, team milestones, or other specific outcomes within an NHL game.
9. What are NHL parlay bets, and how do they work?
   Parlays are a combination of several individual wagers that offer the potential for a higher payout. You will need all legs of the parlay to be successful in order to win the bet.
10. What are NHL teaser bets, and how do they work?
    Teasers are similar to parlays, as they also combine multiple wagers into a single bet. However, teasers are different in that they allow you to shift the odds in your favor (i.e., move the spread or total one way to increase your odds of success) but do not offer as big of a payout as parlays.
11. How do NHL puck line bets work, and what are NHL puck lines?
    Puck lines are hockey’s version of a point spread. The betting site will set the line based on the expected outcome, and you will need to predict whether the favorite will win by a certain number of goals or the underdog will cover.
12. Can I bet on the NHL from my mobile device?
    Yes, NHL fans in states or jurisdictions where sports betting is legal may place bets on their mobile device using their preferred sportsbook’s website or mobile app.
13. Can I bet on NHL Live?
    Yes, the vast majority of sportsbooks allow you to place in-game wagers on any NHL matchup. Odds will be updated in real-time, and you can typically place bets at any point throughout the game.
14. What are the best NHL betting strategies for beginners?
    A few of the best NHL betting strategies for beginners include properly managing your bankroll, finding your specialty or area of expertise, doing thorough research, and using relevant statistics.
15. What are the top NHL betting sites in the US?
    DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers are five of the top NHL betting sites widely available across the United States.
16. How do I understand NHL betting trends and statistics?
    You can understand NHL betting trends and statistics by reading articles and listening to podcasts from experts in the industry and doing your own research by examining data related to team performance, player statistics, head-to-head matchups, situational outcomes, and other key areas.
17. What are NHL betting tips for maximizing your winnings?
    A few NHL betting tips to help maximize your winnings include following line movements and betting trends, using advanced analytics, shopping for the best odds, and staying disciplined.
18. How do I read NHL betting odds and lines?
    American betting odds, commonly referred to as moneylines, are represented by either a positive or negative number. Negative moneyline odds (e.g., -110, -175, or -250) are used on favorites and refer to the amount you will need to bet to win $100, while positive moneyline odds (e.g., +110, +175, or +300) are used on underdogs and refer to the amount you will win on a $100 wager.