Betting On NHL Hockey Games
The NHL has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the last few years, but that hasn’t stopped people from betting on the games. Betting on the NHL is one of the gems in the betting industry, as it’s the 4th most popular sport in America. Even without its popularity around the world (except in colder countries), this actually gives a benefit to the bettors like you. The bookies spend less time making the lines for games, which in turn leads to some good value for the smart bettor.
By now you should have an interest in the NHL from a betting standpoint and want to know how to get started. By the end of this article, you should a clear understanding of how to bet efficiently on the NHL. You will also find where you can place bets and what to look for in a good bookie. You will be surprised at the wide selection of places you can place bets on in a safe and secure location without fear of legal ramifications whether that be in a state with legal sports betting or online through offshore betting sites.
Betting On The 2023 Stanley Cup Winner
2023 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
- Boston Bruins +300
- Colorado Avalanche +600
- Carolina Hurricanes +900
- Toronto Maple Leafs +900
- Edmonton Oilers +1100
- New York Rangers +1100
- New Jersey Devils +1200
- Vegas Golden Knights +1200
- Dallas Stars +1400
- Tampa Bay Lightning +1600
- Los Angeles Kings +2000
- Minnesota Wild +2200
- Seattle Kraken +3300
- Pittsburgh Penguins +4000
- New York Islanders +5000
- Winnipeg Jets +5000
- Calgary Flames +6000
- Florida Panthers +6600
Past Stanley Cup Finals Winners
Betting on the NHL is one of the more popular bets to make considering that the sport of hockey is becoming more and more familiarized. With that, placing a futures bet on the winner of the Stanley Cup Finals could turn out to be a real money maker, especially if the odds are taken sooner rather than later. Below you will find the past winners of the Stanley Cup Finals and their odds upon entering the season.
| Year: | Team: | Preseason Odds: |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | +600 |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | +900 |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | +675 |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | +3000 |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | +1125 |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | +1100 |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | +1300 |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | +700 |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings | +1200 |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks | +1200 |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings | +1600 |
| 2011 | Boston Bruins | +1600 |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks | +1000 |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Penguins | +500 |
| 2008 | Detroit Red Wings | +700 |
| 2007 | Anaheim Ducks | +1200 |
| 2006 | Carolina Hurricanes | +6000 |
| 2005 | No Champion | |
| 2004 | Tampa Bay Lightning | +2500 |
| 2003 | New Jersey Devils | +1200 |
| 2002 | Detroit Red Wings | +450 |
Where To Bet On NHL Hockey Online
When looking to get in on the NHL betting action, you have plenty of options to choose from. However, there are different factors to take into consideration for each online sportsbook that offers NHL betting lines. Some of those things might be the odds that they are offering in which you can shop lines from different books, or even the different bonuses that they offer to both new and existing users.
Can I bet On The NHL On Bovada?
Yes, Bovada offers odds on every NHL game, award, and Stanley Cup Champion year-round. The NHL is one of Bovada's most bet-on sports, meaning the sportsbook knows that they must continue offering their excellent NHL odds to keep their players happy. Bovada also offers odds on many of the top Canadian, European, and U.S.-based leagues, meaning there is always a bet available on hockey at the top-rated online sportsbook.
USA Online Sportsbooks
U.S.A. Sportsbook Reviews
Banking Options
Daily Fantasy Sports
Legal Sports Betting
Bovada is the top online sportsbook when it comes to betting on the NHL for numerous reasons. First off, the odds that they offer range from not just the game lines, but to futures odds that are constantly shifting, and game and player props. They also thrive in the live betting market which some might even consider their best feature. They accept many different payments from credit and debit cards to different cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Depositing into your new account for the first time can bring you as much as $250 thanks to a 50% free play match bonus. They also offer bonuses when the Stanley Cup finals get closer.
One of the best things about using BetOnline to place bets on the NHL is the freedom you have when doing so. This comes with their mobile betting platform that is accessible on any smart device that has access to the internet. Those devices might include iPhone, Samsung, Android, and more. While they do not offer any downloadable applications for smart device users, you can access their site from the internet browser on those devices and use them as you would on a desktop or laptop computer. You can not only place bets from wherever you may be, but new users can even sign up and take advantage of any of the bonuses they have to offer as well.
For players looking to make betting on the NHL look as easy as Connor McDavid makes playing in the NHL look, MyBookie is an excellent choice. The accordion style selection of betting odds makes finding each game and prop bet easy and efficient, with players finding futures odds to be just as easy to find. Sign-up is a breeze at MyBookie as well, as the sportsbook has players input simple information and then gives each player many different depositing options that they may choose from. MyBookie makes betting on the NHL easy not only because of their sign-up process and the setup of their site but also because they offer players a 100% sign-up bonus on their first deposit. Betting on the NHL is easy with free money!
SportsBetting.ag is one of the most consistent and trusted upon online sportsbooks on the market today. That is because of the different forms of payment that they accept which includes VISA and other forms of debit and credit cards, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin amongst many others. This makes betting on the NHL much easier and more accessible. You also have great bonuses to look forward to as well including their 50% welcome bonus where you can earn up to $1,000 on your initial deposit using the SB1000 bonus code. For existing users, you can user their FORLIFE promo code for a 25% match up to $250 on every additional deposit after.
Tips For Betting On The NHL
NHL hockey is primarily a moneyline sport. This means betting on teams straight up to win games which leads to there being a lack of over/under lines, goal spreads and other bets that will be found in other sports. These wagers can be found as well as a variety of alternate lines, reverse lines, and more, but picking the winner is often a little easier in the NHL. Use these few tricks to help increase your winners:
Shop Around And Get The Best Lines – The money line on a given game will differ from bookie to bookie. Finding the best line is key to winning when putting money on NHL games, as payouts can increase only slightly or even be doubled across various platforms.
Don't Forget About Game Totals – Understanding how goalies operate is vital to betting on the game total. Does he stop everything in site or does the defense allow him to be shielded? Take into account a few goalies and monitor their progress over time.
Bet The Team On Home Ice – Winning on the road in the National Hockey League is tougher than most sports for some reason. The glass slapping, the home chants, the overall intensity is offsetting for those coming in, so picking the home team can never be a bad choice.
Wager On Teams That Win On The Road – Be wary of the good road teams, though. Some athletes prefer being the bad guy, underdog, or given no chance to win in order to motivate them into success. You can find some good value with a winning team who is playing on the road many times.
Notice Streaks – NHL hockey teams go on streaks fairly often, be it losing or winning. Pay attention to streaks and ride the wave before it ends.
Use Historical Data – Using the results from past head-to-head matchups, both game result and betting results, can be extremely valuable when deciding which team to wager on. NHL betting trends are basically just that except that the 'hot' and 'cold' patterns and can be found on a variety of websites.
Which Side Is Getting The Most Action?
The betting consensus in NHL hockey is something that many to pay attention to when shopping for a good wager. The consensus will show you who is betting on what team for a game or basically seeing which side of the bet has the majority of the money. If the majority of people are betting on one side, the bookies will often make the underdog more valuable to bet on.
Betting with or against the public is a strategy that some use alone when deciding which side to put money on within a bet. There is a saying, 'if the public is betting one way, go the other way'. While not always true, it really does seem like bigger games go like this however that is not always necessarily the case with the NHL or during the Stanley Cup Finals.
Knowing where the money is at within a wager is just another good thing that NHL bettors should put in their toolbox. Having information on every angle will prepare you to make more educated wagers on any sport.
Betting On NHL Awards
NHL betting sites allow for more than just bets on which team will win the Stanley Cup, as they also consistently offer bets on which players will win the NHL's biggest awards. With nearly as many major awards as Wayne Gretzky had goals, it is overwhelming to see each betting option for each major award. Instead, the core group of the favorites will be found below, with the odds updating throughout the season.
Hart Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player
- Connor McDavid +250
- Auston Matthews +425
- Leon Draisaitl +600
- Nathan MacKinnon +1000
- Cale Makar +1200
- Kirill Kaprizov +1200
James Norris Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Defenseman
- Cale Makar +135
- Roman Josi +700
- Victor Hedman +900
- Adam Fox +900
- Aaron Ekblad +1200
- Miro Heiskanen +1400
Rocket Richard Trophy - Leading Goal Scorer In The NHL
- Auston Matthews +225
- Leon Draisaitl +550
- Connor McDavid +600
- Alexander Ovenchkin +1000
- Kyle Connor +1400
- Kirill Kaprizov +1400
Vezina Trophy - Most Valuable Goaltender
- Igor Shesterkin +250
- Andrei Vasilevskiy +500
- Ilya Sorokin +1200
- Juuse Saros +1000
- Thatcher Demko +1500
- Jake Oettinger +1200
Art Ross Trophy - League Leader In Points
- Connor McDavid +130
- Leon Draisaitl +600
- Nathan MacKinnon +650
- Auston Matthews +800
- Nikita Kucherov +1000
- Artemi Panarin +1800
Calder Trophy - Best Rookie In The NHL
- Matty Beniers +350
- Mason McTavish +550
- Logan Thompson +600
- Owen Power +1000
- Kent Johnson +1300
- Alexander Holtz +1500
Jack Adams Trophy - Coach Of The Year
- Bruce Cassidy +1200
- Gerrard Gallant +1200
- Jared Bednar +1200
- Derek Lalonde +1500
- Jay Woodcroft +1500
- Paul Maurice +1500
Final Advice & Words Of Wisdom For Betting On NHL Hockey Games
The basic gist for betting on the NHL is to dive into one aspect of the sport first. For those unfamiliar, finding one aspect of the NHL odds to explore make it easier to find an edge over the oddsmakers. Whether you focus on one team, the first period lines or even one specific prop bet, truly dive into what you are betting. As the sport is not as well covered as the NFL or NBA, it allows some mistakes from the sportsbooks. The best advice when betting on the NHL is to find good value propositions and shop lines - if you're only checking one site or one source, you're limiting your potential value. Make sure to focus on getting value in your bets, and you should do just fine.