NHL Betting Odds
Betting on games makes the NHL immensely more exciting, but finding the best odds can be really tricky.
With myriad options across the online gambling landscape, and more cropping up every day, it is really, really hard to find the best odds for each game.
That’s where we come in. The GameDay has curated a list of the best odds for each NHL game and spells out odds for moneyline, puck line and over/under for every game each night. It’s an integral tool for hockey gamblers who are looking to max value every day — or trying to find the best number he/she is comfortable with.
But wait, there’s more. The odds comparison tool also enables prospective NHL bettors to get expert advice on great-value props and where to find the best odds for those too.
The odds comparison is a great tool for gamblers but also fans since it also features a television schedule that informs people of what time and channel each game is on — which is especially valuable when those pesky exclusive national-television games are on.
NHL Odds Explained
Oddsmakers are trying to make the most money while also enticing fans to wager on prospective events in each game.
Sportsbooks need to differentiate themselves from the competition, so they might offer odds boosts or better odds than their competitors for a given game. If one book’s slight underdog line is -105, a competing book may use -102 thus making a more lucrative payout for prospective bettors — however slight. For context, a -102 bet means that a gambler must wager $102 to win $100. In a -105 bet, a gambler would put up $105 to win $100, plus his/her original stake.
Lines and odds change throughout the day due to varying factors. Perhaps injury news is released of an important player that would affect a team’s odds of winning. Maybe news comes out that one team is giving its Vezina Trophy-caliber goalie the night off, thus improving the competition’s odds of winning.
Whatever the case, sportsbooks will alter the odds and over/unders right up until game time — and then even after the game has started to entice live betting.
Finding the Best NHL Odds
Shopping odds when betting on the NHL is essential, even more so than while gambling on other sports because most of the spreads and over/unders are the same for each game. Most puck lines are -1.5. Most over/unders are either 5.5 or 6. Therefore the odds become the only unique factor from book to book.
What to Look for in NHL Moneyline Odds
Moneyline betting is the most basic of wagers. When you place a moneyline bet, you’re gambling on which team will win. Due to the fact there are games featuring uneven teams, or uneven circumstances given the volume of games on back-to-back nights in the NHL, sportsbooks will tie odds to moneyline bets.
For instance if the Toronto Maple Leafs are home against the Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto is rested and Montreal played in Buffalo the night before, the Maple Leafs may be a -200 moneyline favorite and the Canadiens could be a +150 underdog. That means a bettor who put up $100 on the Canadiens would win $150, and it would take a gambler $200 to win $100 plus his/her original stake.
What to Look for in NHL Spread Lines
Betting spreads, or making puck-line bets, on NHL games is difficult since legendary coach Darryl Sutter famously said “It’s a 3-2 league.” Empty-net goals are the gift that keep on giving, since the puck-line spread for most NHL games is 1.5 — meaning the winning team must win by two or more goals for the bet to pay out.
For instance, in the hypothetical game above, the Maple Leafs puck-line odds of -1.5 might be +185, and the Canadiens puck-line odds might be -210. That means wagering the Canadiens to cover, or lose by one goal, would require a $210 bet to win $100. Betting the Maple Leafs to cover 1.5 goals, or win by two or more, would pay out $185 plus the original $100 stake.
What to Look for in NHL Totals
Because the NHL is a 3-2 league, most games have an over/under between 5 and 6. Games with low-scoring teams or featuring great goalies might have a 5. Games with other-worldly skill may peak at 6.5, but those are really rare.
If the over/under has a half-point number, usually 5.5 or 6.5, then an over bet wins if there are more goals than that. The under wins if there are fewer than that.
If the over/under is 6 and the game ends 4-2 then that’s a push, and both sides retain their original stake — meaning the bettor receives his/her original money back.
For instance, in that Maple Leafs-Canadiens game. If Carey Price is in goal for Montreal then the over/under would likely be 5.5, even in spite of Toronto’s surplus skill. An over bet would probably be -125 with the under likely being +100, or even money, meaning a $100 bet would fetch a bettor $100.
What Other NHL Bets are Available?
There are myriad bets to make for prospective NHL gamblers, and placing those wagers online makes betting on hockey a cinch. Bettors can peruse those odds and search for the props they like best without the limitations of a sportsbook screen that may leave hockey bets off.
The most popular non-event-based hockey wager is the anytime scorer prop, meaning the bettor picks a single player to score either a goal or a point in a game. The odds on those bets are long, since picking a player to score in a single event is tricky, but can be especially rewarding when they pay out.
Betting live is also a good way to boost odds since moneyline and puck-line odds will improve the longer a game is tied. However, it is riskier.
Finding the Best Odds at US Online Sportsbooks
Odds shopping is an integral piece of online gambling, since the best odds produce the best payouts. Every little bit helps since over time even having pennies in an online gambling account can produce winning bets.
Therefore the odds-comparison tool is an integral piece of betting on the NHL where again the odds make all the difference, and you’ll feel better about your winning bets due to the fact you’re maxing out your payouts.
How to Use the Odds Comparison Tool
Getting accustomed to the odds-comparison tool is simple since it only takes a few clicks to find the best puck-line, over/under and moneyline odds. Plus, by clicking on the link attached to each bet you’ll land on the sportsbook’s website where you can place that potential wager before the odds change.
If those odds change, you can head back to the odds-comparison tool and further assess the up-to-the-minute lines and odds. The comparison tool will show you the best odds but also each sportsbook’s odds on the moneyline, total and puck-line bets.
How to Sign Up to an Online Sportsbook
Signing up for an online sportsbook can seem daunting at first, but it is remarkably easy. Plus there are new sign-up bonuses, meaning you can get in the game without even making a deposit.
Here are the steps
- Pick your preferred sportsbook, click on their icon in the odds comparison tool.
- Follow the prompts on the site and download the book’s mobile app — remember any sensitive information is secure and is asked for to ensure identification.
- Deposit. Make sure to use any promo codes to lock in second-chance bets or other new player promotions.
Keep in mind that aside from shopping for the best odds, each app offers a first-time deposit match or second-chance bet, meaning that you’ll get free money and find the best odds for betting on the NHL.
