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    LowPlays NHL Betting Guide

    The NHL strongly lags behind the NFL and NBA, however, it’s still considered one of the US’s major sports and is basically a religion in Canada. The league has a storied history stretching back to 1917. The modern sport of ice hockey was invented a few years earlier in 1875.

    The Montreal Canadiens are by far the most successful team of all time, with 24 Stanley Cups. Other legendary teams include the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks. On average, 2.6 million people tune into the playoffs. The top hockey players are also paid handsomely, with the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon raking in $16.5M.

    With so many eyes on the NHL, it’s not surprising that ice hockey is one of the most bet on sports in the US. Join me as I level up your NHL knowledge and turn you into the Wayne Gretzky of ice hockey betting!

    Betting in the NHL Regular Season & During the Playoffs

    Like in the NBA, hockey teams play 82 games in the regular season, and then the best teams progress to the playoffs. The postseason starts three days after the end of the regular season and features 16 teams.

    There are four playoff rounds culminating in the finals where the winning team lifts the Stanley Cup and is declared the NHL champions. Each playoff round is a best-of 7-series, so to win the Stanley Cup, a team must win 16 playoff games.

    The NHL betting markets are the same for the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs. However, you must factor in some additional things before placing a bet. In the regular season, the games are often low stakes, which leads to numerous upsets as favorites take it easy and coaches rest superstars.

    It’s the opposite in the playoffs, where every game is critical, and players are willing to give their all to secure the win. Due to the increased pressure of playoff games, inexperienced players and teams can often have off-nights and struggle.

    In the Stanley Cup, playoffs coaching becomes a critical factor. Due to the best-of-7-series format, coaches need to continually make adjustments and adapt to their opponents.

    Divisional rivalries are a big thing during the regular season, with teams facing the same opponent three or four times. These games are often very close, and underdogs regularly win.

    In the NHL regular season, you are more likely to see massive blowouts. This is because all teams play each other, so you’ll have top-of-the-ladder teams taking on squads struggling to win a game. Whereas the playoffs only feature the very best teams, so the games tend to have closer score lines.

    Recommended NHL Betting Sites

    Even though all betting sites have NHL markets, it doesn’t mean you should sign up to any random platform. The odds, bonuses, and user experience can vary significantly between sportsbooks. These are the NHL betting sites I prefer to use:

    FanDuel – Best NHL Odds

    At FanDuel, you can bet as little as $0.09 on all NHL regular season and playoff games. After comparing dozens of sportsbooks, I found that FanDuel offers the highest odds on the NHL, especially for the puck line and totals. You’ll also find daily odds boosts of 30%+ for ice hockey games.

    FanDuel also has a special NHL research section where they provide live scores, roster updates, stats, and even picks from proven tipsters. If you use these features wisely, you’ll see a big boost to your win rate.

    Make a super low $10 deposit at FanDuel and enjoy up to a $1,000 no sweat first bet. They’ll refund 100% of your stake if your first NHL bet loses!

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    DraftKings – Best NHL Betting App

    If you like betting via your mobile, then I recommend DraftKings. They have the best mobile app on the market, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. DraftKings app is loaded with features like HD live streams and early cashout.

    DraftKings offers the most NHL bet types of any sportsbook out there. They have a sick selection of props like first to score, over/under number of goals and shot attempts.

    This sportsbook is also a market leader when it comes to live betting. You’ll find 30+ live markets for every single NHL game, and the betting process is super smooth, with odds and your betting slip updating in real-time.

    DraftKings accepts $0.10 bets on NHL games, and when you deposit only $5, you’ll scoop a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1,000!

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    BetMGM – Best NHL Betting Bonuses & VIP Program

    MGM may be known for its luxury casinos, but its sportsbook treats everyone like a VIP. At BetMGM, you can bet $0.50 on any NHL game that catches your eye, and the minimum deposit is only $10.

    BetMGM is heaven if you’re into NHL parlays with incredible odds, and you can add up to 15 legs to your betting slip. This sportsbook regularly has parlays boosts up to 40% for NHL games, especially during the playoffs.

    BetMGM is extremely generous when it comes to bonuses and promotions. Every time you bet on an NHL game, you’ll pocket reward points. These special points can be used to book free stays at any MGM resort, including the glamorous Bellagio. With your reward points, you can dine for free, get tickets to shows, and even go on a shopping spree.

    Make your first deposit at BetMGM now and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first NHL wager loses!

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    Types of Bets

    NHL betting has moved past betting on your favorite team and hoping they win. Sportsbooks now offer extensive markets where you can bet on all parts of the game, from points to goals to the Conn Smythe Trophy, and even place wagers while the players are still on the ice. Here are the most common NHL bets:

    Moneyline

    The moneyline is simply a bet on which NHL team you think will win. When placing a moneyline bet, you shouldn’t just think about which team is likely to win, you also need to factor in the odds.

    Let’s say no one is giving the New York Rangers a chance against the New York Islanders. Even though you think the Rangers will lose, if the sportsbooks are paying +350, it’s still worth it to gamble on them causing an upset.

    Puck Line

    The NFL has the spread, while the NHL has the puck line. With this bet, the sportsbook places a -1.5 goal handicap on the favorite and gives the underdog a +1.5 goal advantage. Taking into consideration the handicap and advantage, you need to predict which team will win.

    For example, if you take the Dallas Stars at -1.5 against the Edmonton Oilers, and the Stars win 2-0, your bet pays out. However, if Dallas only won by one goal, your bet would lose.

    Totals Betting

    If you have a knack for predicting goals, then an NHL totals bet might be right up your alley. The sportsbook will set the line, say 4.5, and then you need to guess whether the total number of goals scored in the game will be higher (over) or lower (under).

    Prop Wagers

    With prop bets, you can wager on different aspects of an NHL game unrelated to the final result. You might bet on Nikita Kucherov to score the first goal of the game or Artemi Panarin to take over 3.5 shots.

    NHL Parlays

    You can add more than one NHL wager to your betting slip, thanks to parlays. The odds of the multiple bets are combined, however, your wager only pays out if all of your individual selections are correct. For example, if you bet on the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings to win, and the Bruins and Maple Leafs get the job done, but the Red Wings lose, you won’t win a dime!

    Live Betting

    Any NHL bet you place while the game is being played is considered a live bet. Virtually all markets are available, and the odds can swing wildly as teams score, concede penalties, and players get injured. Some savvy bettors attend games and try to place bets before the sportsbooks can update their odds in a practice known as courtsiding.

    Futures Betting

    Futures betting is all about predicting the outcome of a multi-stage event like a tournament or season award. For example, you might bet on the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup or Connor McDavid to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

    Complete History of the NHL

    The modern game of ice hockey was invented in 1875 in Montreal, Canada. Yep, hockey is even older than basketball. The first professional league, the National Hockey Association (NHA), was established in 1909 by Ambrose O’Brien and featured teams from Ontario and Quebec.

    In 1917, franchises got into a dispute with Toronto Blueshirts owner Eddie Livingstone, and due to the NHA’s rules, they were unable to kick him out of the competition. So they decided to form their own league and the NHL was born.

    The first American team, the Boston Bruins, didn’t enter the NHL until 1924. Up until 1967, the NHL had six teams: the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

    The NHL then underwent a rapid expansion and immediately doubled the number of teams in 1967. Over the years, it has continued to add teams, and there are now 33 squads spread around Canada and the US.

    The NHL’s regular season runs from October until April, and teams play 82 regular season games. The top eight teams from the Western and Eastern conferences then progress to the playoffs, where they battle for the Stanley Cup, the oldest sports trophy in North America. The Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893 when Lord Arthur Stanley, the Governor General of Canada, became obsessed with hockey and donated the cup.

    The greatest NHL player of all time is Wayne Gretzky. He has the most goals (1,016) and points (2,857) and won four Stanley Cups. The greatest NHL team in the league’s history is the Montreal Canadiens, who have hoisted the Stanley Cup 24 times.

    NHL Teams

    There are 32 active NHL teams and 1 inactive. 26 of the teams hail from the USA, while the other 7 are from Canada. The teams are divided based on their geographical location into Eastern and Western conferences and then into four divisions.

    Eastern Conference

    Atlantic

    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs

    Metropolitan

    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals

    Western Conference

    Central

    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wilds
    • Nashville Predators
    • St. Louis Blues
    • Utah (name yet to be determined)
    • Winnipeg Jets

    Pacific

    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Vegas Golden Knights

    NHL Betting Strategy

    NHL betting is part art, part science. It’s all about analyzing the numbers, looking for patterns, searching for soft odds, and a healthy bit of intuition. Here are some NHL betting strategies I’ve had personal success with:

    Bet the +1.5 Underdog in Rivalry Games

    NHL teams play their divisional rivals three to four times every season. As the squads are acutely aware of each other’s tendencies and strategies, these games tend to be close. Also, underdogs often overperform, as beating a divisional rival is a source of pride.

    Some big rivalries I always bet on are Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens, and Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers.

    Gamble on Home Teams Coming off a Loss

    The market is often too eager to write off a team after a loss or two. You can find great value by looking for sides that have lost a few road games and then are playing at home. With this bet, you’re predicting that the dip in form is temporary and also banking that the team will get a boost from their hometown crowd.

    Look for Underdogs Struggling to Score Goals

    Find teams that are playing away, have lost their last two games, and have scored less than 3 goals in each of the matches. Make sure you check the odds; this strategy only works if the team is paying + odds.

    Fade the Team With a Backup Goalie

    Often just before the opening faceoff, coaches will bench their starting goalies either because they are injured or to simply rest them. Backup goalies typically aren’t as good as the starter and are more likely to let in goals. To further increase your chance of winning, bet against small favorites playing with their second-string goalie.

    Bet on the Carolina Hurricanes Coming off a Win When Playing Away

    After doing some backtesting, I stumbled upon a profitable NHL betting strategy. All you need to do is bet on the Carolina Hurricanes when they are playing on the road and are riding a 1+ game win streak. Also, double-check they have at least 1.5 days of rest. This strategy works for all NHL teams but is particularly effective when you wager on the Hurricanes.

    How to Bet on the NHL?

    Thanks to online sportsbooks, NHL betting is fast, and you can place wagers at a moment’s notice. To get started, pop over to any of the sites I recommended above and fill out the registration form. It shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes. You just need to share your name, email, address, date of birth, and last four digits of your SSN.

    Now, just tap the deposit button, enter your payment details, and the amount you wish to deposit. You can deposit via everything, from credit/debit card to PayPal to bank transfer.

    Once you’ve got the boring stuff out of the way, it’s time to place your first NHL bet. Follow these steps:

    1. Scroll through the different sports and tap on the NHL
    2. Pick a game, eg. Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks
    3. Select a bet type, say moneyline
    4. Pick a team to win, for example, the Dallas Stars to beat the Chicago Blackhawks
    5. Enter your stake, eg. $100
    6. Confirm your bet

    Placing NHL bets is a walk in the park, but consistently winning them is another story. Before you dive headfirst, do your research and try out some of the strategies I shared above. Feel free to tweak them and good luck!

    NHL Betting News

    NHL Betting FAQs

    What is the moneyline in the NHL?

    The moneyline in the NHL is a type of bet where you need to predict the winner of the game. Sportsbooks offer odds based on the likelihood of a team winning. For example, if the Florida Panthers are a strong favorite, they might pay -250 odds.

    What does +1.5 mean in the NHL?

    +1.5 in the NHL means your bet pays out if the team wins the game or loses by a maximum of one goal. If you bet on a team at -1.5, they have to win by 2 goals or more. This is known as the puck line and is the NHL’s version of spread betting.

    How to read NHL betting lines?

    The NHL team with + odds is the underdog, while the squad with – odds is the favorite. The higher an NHL team’s odds, the bigger your potential payout, but the less likely you’re to win.

    Who has won the most Stanley Cups?

    The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cups with 24. Unfortunately for Canadiens’ fans, they haven’t won since 1993 which is also the year the last Canadian NHL team lifted the Stanley Cup.

    What NHL team has never won the Stanley Cup?

    11 NHL teams have never won the Stanley Cup, including:

    • Seattle Kraken
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Florida Panthers
    • Ottawa Senators
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Winnipeg Jets

    Who is the highest-scoring player in NHL history?

    The highest-scoring player in NHL history is Wayne Gretzky, with 2,857 points. In second place is Jaromir Jagr, who is a long way behind with 1,921 points.