How To Bet On Hockey

For each thrilling NHL match, there's the favorite – the team deemed most likely to triumph – and the underdog – the team anticipated to struggle. Understanding the betting lines is vital when analyzing matchups: the negative number alongside a team's name denotes the favorite, while the positive number denotes the underdog. Placing a bet on the favorite guarantees a smaller payout compared to wagering on the underdog, which can yield a higher return if they come through.

Favorites Underdogs Hockey Sports Betting

In our earlier example, Team 2 is the favorite (-275), while Team 1 stands as the underdog (+225). Let’s dive deeper into the significance of those numbers and how they impact your betting approach.

Types Of Hockey Bets

Money Line

One popular method to bet on NHL games is to determine the outright winner. This is precisely where those numbers come into play, shedding light on the favorite versus the underdog. When you place a bet, or simply back a team to win, the figure next to the favorite reflects how much you must wager to secure a $100 profit. Conversely, the figure next to the underdog indicates how much you would stand to win from a $100 bet.

In our earlier example, wagering on Team 2 to win requires you to stake $275 for a potential $100 profit. In contrast, a $100 bet on Team 1 could yield a $225 profit should they claim victory.

Puck Line

While money line bets are straightforward, the Puck Line introduces an additional layer of excitement. Here, you can bet on whether the favorite will outscore the underdog by at least two goals. For instance, if the final score reveals Team 2 winning 5 to Team 1's 3, you’d be victorious by betting on Team 2 at -1.5 (5 – 1.5 > 3). However, if Team 2 only manages a narrow 3 to 2 win, your wager would be a loss (3 – 1.5 < 2).

The number in parentheses accompanying the -1.5 or +1.5 indicates your payout odds. A (-110) wager specifies that you must stake $110 to earn $100 from your bet.

Over/Under

Another thrilling betting option is to wager on the total number of goals scored in a game, irrespective of the winning team. In an Over/Under bet, your objective is to predict whether the total score will exceed or fall below a set line. For instance, if that line is 6.5, and the final score accumulates to 7 or more, betting on the over means you’d walk away victorious. Over/Under bets add excitement by allowing fans to engage with the game without focusing solely on the final outcome.

Player Props

For those looking to spice up their betting experience, prop bets introduce an element of intrigue. Player prop bets enable you to wager on individual athletes’ performances by choosing whether a player will tally over or under specific statistics, including:

• Goals
• Assists
• Points
• Shots On Goal

Example of Hockey Player Prop Bets

In the illustration above, you can spot three distinct prop bets: Over/Under .5 goals, Over/Under .5 assists, and Over/Under .5 total points for a player.

Game Props

When seeking an electrifying game-watching adventure, game prop bets serve up various wagering opportunities. You can bet on scenarios like which team will score first, which team will amass more goals in the first period, or whether the match will extend into overtime, thereby enhancing your overall viewing excitement.

The Grand Salami Bet

A beloved staple in hockey betting, the Grand Salami represents the ultimate betting excitement. This unique wager concerns the over/under total goals scored across all games on a given day’s schedule. Payouts generally vary between (-120) and (+105), influenced by factors such as team matchups, the goalies slated to play, and other dynamics that keep the betting landscape competitive and engaging.

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