The NHL is a massive league that is covered by just about every bookmaker. Picking the right one can be tough, so we’ve compiled several of the top NHL betting sites to help find the one that’s best for you.
The National Hockey League, or NHL, is a hockey league featuring 31 teams, with a 32nd team joining the league for the 2021-22 NHL season. The league features both Canadian and American players and is the top hockey league in the world. The NHL is wildly popular around the world, although it carries a special place in Canada considering hockey is Canada’s game. There are two conferences in the NHL, the Eastern and Western Conferences. Before the COVID pandemic, there were 16 teams in the Eastern Conference, and 15 teams in the Western Conference. The additional team in 2021-22 should even those numbers. The Conferences are aligned into two divisions per conference. The teams within the divisions will play each other four to five times per year and compete against the teams not in their division but in their conference around three times. The remaining games are against the teams outside of the team’s conference. All told, each team will play 82 games, and regulation games are divided into three 20 minute periods. A win counts as two points in the standings, a loss in overtime/penalty shootout counts as one, and a regulation loss counts as zero. The standings are based on how many points teams accrue throughout the season. Once every team has played 82 games, the regular season ends. With so many games per team, there is a ton to bet on throughout the NHL season, but the action doesn’t stop once the season does. Because once the NHL’s regular-season stops, the Stanley Cup playoffs begin, and the playoffs are even more fun for bettors, because of the higher stakes and more intense games. The playoffs start with 16 teams, eight from each conference based on how many points they’ve accrued in the regular season. The eight teams that make it in each conference are the three top teams in the two divisions, and two “wild cards”, the two teams with the most points that weren’t top three in their division. The two division champions play the two wild cards, and the second and third-place team in each division faces off. Playoff series are best of seven, so whoever wins four games first wins the series. The winners of the four series in each conference face off in two series in the Conference Semi-Finals. Then, the winner of those rounds will play in the Conference Finals to determine which team will represent the Eastern and Western Conference. Finally, the two teams remaining play in the Stanley Cup Final. The winner of that is the champion. The road to the championship is a long one, and along the way, bettors and fans will find much to enjoy. The NHL is a league filled with stakes, drama, talent, and excitement, and those who love the game will find NHL betting will take things to the next level.
If you’re looking for betting sites that have markets for the NHL, we have you covered. These operators cover all aspects of the sport, including Stanley Cup betting sites. Every Canadian bettor who is looking for the right operator to do some NHL gambling with, pay attention, as we’ve compiled a list of recommended betting sites that have great NHL offerings. We consider all aspects of a sportsbook when deciding which ones are their best, including reputation, ease of use, markets, and more. Here are some NHL betting sites we highly recommend.
NHL Odds For Canadian bettors, the standard form of odds is called American odds. American odds use (+) and (–) to illustrate favourited teams, and underdogs, as well as show the potential for payouts. When it comes to a game spread, the team favourited will have a minus next to the amount oddsmakers say they are favourited, and the underdog will have a plus next to that same number. If a team, like for example the Buffalo Sabres, is +2.5, they are a 2.5 goal underdog. For payouts, American odds also use (+) for underdogs and (–) for favourites. The system uses $100 as the basis for their lines. If a team is +200, a bet of $100 will payout $200. If a team is +800, a bet of $100 will payout $800. This doesn’t count the initial staked bet which will also be returned. If a team is (-), they are favourited, and once again, the basis for this is $100. If a team is -200, a bettor needs to bet $200 to win an additional $100. If a team is -450, a bettor needs to bet $450 to win an additional $100. NHL Markets There are a lot of terms and slang when it comes to markets. Understanding exactly what these markets are offering, and what bettors are betting on, is extremely essential to being a successful bettor. Here is a breakdown of some of the different core markets you’ll come across on your NHL betting journey. Moneyline: Moneyline betting is a bet that is on one team to win the game, whether it is in regulation or overtime. If you bet the Toronto Maple Leafs on the Moneyline, that means you are betting the Leafs to win straight up. Puck Line: Puck Line is hockey’s version of a spread. A puck line is the line that a team is favoured to win or lose by. The spread, or puck line, is always 1.5 in a hockey game. That means the favourite is favoured to win by 1.5 goals, and the underdog is a 1.5 goal underdog. If you bet the Vancouver Canucks at +1.5, that means they are the underdog, and if they win the game or lose by one, the bet hits for you. Totals: Totals are the number of goals that oddsmakers project will be scored in an entire game between two teams. If the total for an Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames game is set at 4.5, bettors can choose to bet the over or under, meaning whether they think there will be 5 goals or less. Futures: Futures are bets on things that won’t be determined by just one game. They are things that will be decided over time. Examples of NHL futures that bettors could engage with are who will lead the league in points, who will win the Vezina trophy, and who will win the Stanley Cup. Props: Props are bets that are within a game. There are game props, like how many total powerplays there will be, or how many shots between the two teams. There are also player props, like whether a goalie will have a certain number of saves, or whether a player will score a goal. NHL Strategies & Tips Here are some strategies and tips to give you the best opportunity to stay profiting with your NHL bets: Know who is in net: Goalie is the most important position in the game, and having a good goalie in net is a massive difference for teams that can decide the outcome of a game. No goalie plays all 82 games in the league today, so many times goalies will have the night off and the backup will be in. For some teams, the difference is marginal, for others, it is a huge factor. Before placing a bet on the team or the over/under, know who is in the net for each team. This is essential for bettors to be aware of. Be aware of the teams’ schedule: The NHL season is an absolute grind. There are 82 games of an extremely physical sport, and because the games are played across two countries, the travel is extreme. This is something that impacts the game because if a team goes on a long trip and has to play a game on back-to-back nights, their play will be diminished. This doesn’t mean it is an automatic loss, but it is something bettors need to take into account. Bettors should look at the team’s schedules and recent performances before betting on the performance of a team. Look at player’s recent performances: Player prop bets are an uncertain proposition on a game-to-game basis. Some players are remarkably consistent game to game, but it is never easy to know how a player is going to do on the stat sheet any given night. One way to help clear things up is to look at a player’s last 10 games. Hockey is a momentum-based game, and even if someone has had a high-scoring season to that point, if they haven’t scored in 5 games, maybe avoid betting on them. On the other hand, if someone is in the middle of a large point streak, that would make them a smart bet to continue. Avoid the Puckline in tight matchups unless betting underdog: Because the puck line is always 1.5, it makes betting on a favourite difficult in a close matchup. A lot of teams are very evenly matched in the NHL, so betting on a margin of victory of at least two isn’t always smart, because it makes the bet difficult. While the odds often reflect this in a close game, as sometimes a -1.5 team will be +150 or more on the puck line, the best practice is to only bet puck line if you feel confident in the talent difference between the teams.
Sports Interaction: An in-depth and enjoyable NHL experience from a great Canadian operator Betway: An operator that has thrived in Canada, due in part to their enjoyable NHL betting experience TonyBet: This sportsbook and casino provides bettors with many different kinds of bets to pick from BetVictor: A popular operator that has massive amounts of markets for big NHL events 888Sport: A well-known gambling operator with a great app and unique promotions for NHL bettors Neo.Bet: Countless NHL player props to pair with other unique features. BetMGM: One of Canada’s most trusted betting sites with high-quality live betting Betsafe: A recently launched sportsbook with great NHL game prop offerings PowerPlay: An NHL betting site with easy banking and great customer support
Hockey season calls for some promotions, as operators know that bettors are going to swarm to their sportsbooks in droves to place bets on their favourite teams. To attract customers, operators use NHL promotions as a way to separate from the pack. Welcome packages are one promotion commonly used to attract customers, as they are promotions that only customers who are new to the website are eligible for. Here is a look at the operator with the best promotions for NHL bettors, including the initial welcome package.
Betting on the NHL requires structures and rules regarding what constitutes a result. Every operator has different rules, although most sportsbooks have similar rules regarding different issues that may pop up throughout a bet. Below, we’ll discuss some of the different NHL betting rules that it is important to know. These will help you better understand how to bet the NHL, and hopefully, help you construct a profitable and effective betting strategy. The rules we have gathered below are intended to provide valuable information to help bettors better understand what to expect when betting on the NHL. However, there are countless operators out there, each with their own sets of rules and terms and conditions. The most effective way to understand these rules is to look at the terms and condition and rules section of the betting operator you are using. This will clear up any confusion, and give you a full sense of how the betting operator works, and what they define as a “result”. BettingTop10 is not responsible for any results. Always check the rules and restrictions to minimize risk If the game is cancelled or delayed, money is returned to the bettor If the game doesn’t go 55 minutes/is cancelled before running 55 minutes, the Moneyline and Puck Line will not count either way, and money will be returned without winnings If a period isn’t fully played out, then bets placed on that period don’t count Overtime and Shootouts are both counted towards Moneyline wager, totals, player props, and game props. A shootout win counts as one goal for a team, and shootout goals aren’t counted as goals for player props The overtime period is counted on third-period prop bets if a game goes into extra time Player props only count if the player plays. If a player does play, then gets injured, the bet still counts. If a player is scratched, or the goalie bet on doesn’t start, the bet doesn’t count Teams must play at least 80 games for Futures bets to count All awards Futures bets are based on NHL.com’s official awards
Betting on every sport is a different experience, even if you are a huge fan of the game. There’s a lot to know about betting on the NHL, and if you don’t have all the answers, don’t worry about it. Here are some frequently asked questions about betting on the NHL. ❔How Does Overtime/Shootout Work with NHL Betting? While every operator is different, overtime counts for just about every operator out there. If a team wins in overtime, that counts as a win on the Moneyline, unless a bettor specifically bet a regulation win. With a shootout win, one goal is added to the total in the favour of the team that won. Player props like goals scored or goalie saves count in overtime, but not in the shootout ❔What is the best Betting Site for me to use for NHL betting? It all comes down to what you’re looking for in a site. Every Betting site has a different area of strength and a different area of weaknesses. It is a matter of preference, like if you are looking for a site with apps, a site with player props, a site with great customer service, etc. Each site provides something different. ❔When Should I Live Bet? Live betting allows you to bet on games that are already in progress. Live betting is extremely useful for hedging your bets. For example, if you placed a bet on a team to win, and they race out to an early lead, placing a small live bet on the opposing team will allow you to earn money either way in some circumstances. As well, if you think a team will blow a lead, or make a rousing comeback, a live bet allows you to capitalize on these beliefs. ❔What is the purpose of NHL parlay betting? Parlay betting allows you to tie multiple different bets under a single umbrella. If one bet doesn’t hit, the whole bet fails. The upside of parlay betting is that it allows you to boost your odds because by tying multiple bets into one, the odds increase substantially more than they would if you bet on each result individually. These bets are great for the playoffs, when bettors have a solid sense of each team and know they will be trying their hardest. Bettors can tie multiple playoff bets into one for a great time, and a large potential payout. ❔What resources are there to help me make more money betting? The internet has countless ways for NHL bettors to potentially refine their betting strategy and earn some more money. For one, researching teams and players, and being aware of betting trends, and trends in performance, is very important in betting. There are also handicappers and AI technology that will give betting tips on the NHL, and provide insight. While being entirely reliant on these isn’t recommended, but an expert or different opinion always helps.
