Betting Basics - The NHL

As with other North American sports NHL Ice Hockey has grown in popularity in the UK. This doesn’t apply just to viewer numbers but also the amount of people betting on NHL. For anyone who has watched an NHL game you will know just how fast paced and action packed they are. In this betting basics guide we are going to look at some of the key parts of an NHL game and some of the most popular betting markets.

How Does the NHL Work?

The NHL comprises of 32 teams, 25 of which are in the USA and the other 7 from Canada. These teams are split into two conferences, A Western Conference, and an Easter Conference. Each Conference is made up of two divisions. Within each division there are 8 teams.

Each team will play 82 regular season games, 41 at home and 41 away from home. The season starts in early October and runs through to the end of April.

During the regular season if a team wins a game they get two points and zero points if they lose. However, if the game is settled in overtime or via a penalty shootout the losing team is awarded a point. There are no ties in NHL games.

Popular Betting Markets

Match winner – To place a successful bet you need to pick which team is going to win the match. Whilst there are no draws in NHL, some book makers do offer markets which include the draw during regular time. Make sure you are aware of the terms of the market you are betting on. They will normally state (Including Overtime) in their description.

Total Goals (Over/Under) – A simple market which allows you to bet on the total number of goals in a game. Your bookmaker will offer odds on over a variety number of goals. The higher number of goals you choose, the high the odds will be. You can also bet on the opposite by selecting under a set number of goals.

Period Bets – NHL games take places over three periods. This market allows you to treat each of those periods as individual games. You can then select a team to be winning or the period to end in a draw. Once that period has finished your bet will be settled. The final result of the game does not impact this market.

BettorMind Advice

Research – For some people betting on NHL will be new to them. The research you put into your bets will definitely help you learn more about the sport and allow you to come to more informed decisions. With teams playing so many regular season fixtures there will be a large amount of information for you to use.

Planning – As with the majority of sports based in North America most NHL games will take place during the night in the UK. This means you need to plan ahead the bets you wish to make. This is great practice and allows you to always be in control of when you are betting and avoids you feeling the need to place bets during unsociable hours.

Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, betting on the NHL should be something which enhances your experience as a fan. Therefore, taking on board the advice in this article as well as other pieces of content at BettorMind. You will enable yourself to be in the best position to get the most enjoyment from your betting.