The NHL season is here, which means one thing: it’s hockey season! For those who love their hockey, this is the best time of the year. The games are exciting as the puck will be going back and forth all night long. And for those who love to bet, this is also the best time of the year because there are so many opportunities to win some money. Let’s review the basics of betting on the NHL and how you can make some extra cash this season.
NHL Basics
If you’re looking for a good place to start, you’ve come to the right place. NHL is the abbreviation for the National Hockey League, which is one of the major professional hockey leagues in North America. The NHL is one of the most popular sporting events to bet on, and for good reason. Not only does it bring in a lot of money, but it has a high degree of unpredictability. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that you could win or lose money just based on _how the game is going to play out_. It really is that close to being a craps game.
NHL Lines
Each team is generally grouped together based on the odds they’ll score a specific number of goals. For example, the San Jose Sharks are 7/5 to score more than 3 goals, giving them a total line value of 3.5 goals. The Anaheim Ducks are 4/1 to score more than 2 goals, so their total line value is 2.0 goals. You’ll often find teams grouped together with similar line values, so when you hear about a line, you can usually assume that it’s either good or bad. There are three basic principles to understanding NHL lines:
1. The Odds Of Each Game
NHL lines aren’t set in stone. As the games progress and more information becomes available, lines will change and update based on the current odds. This isn’t a problem, as lines will continue to change and evolve throughout the entire season. To get an idea of how powerful the odds can be, compare the odds of the Sharks winning the Stanley Cup this season (13/2) to those of them winning the Super Bowl (10/1). In the grand scheme of things, the Cup isn’t that much more likely to be won compared to the Super Bowl, but it’s a whole different matter when it comes down to making a _winning_ bet. The odds of any team winning the Stanley Cup this season are incredibly high, which means that even small bets can turn into big gains or losses.
2. The Number Of Goals The Game Will End Up Being Won By
Another important thing to consider when betting on the NHL is how many goals the game will end up being won by. We’ve already discussed the fact that goals are quite difficult to predict, even for seasoned betters. One team might be 4/1 to score a goal, while the other is 7/5. When the results of a game don’t match what the odds would suggest, it can be very hard to figure out _why_ this is happening. This is why it’s best to avoid betting on the NHL if your goal is to win money. For those who love a good mystery, however, it’s definitely worth a try. You just have to be sure that you’re not risking any larger sums of money than you’re willing to lose.
3. The Opponents Each Team Is Playing
The third and final point to make about NHL lines is that not all teams are created equal. Some teams will be easier to beat than others, which means that depending on how good a team you think you are, you might not want to waste your time betting on them. For example, the Washington Capitals are probably the most talented team in the entire NHL this season, but they’re playing against the New York Islanders. The Islanders are actually one of the best teams in the league, and it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to bet on them. After all, they’re only 1/4 to win the Stanley Cup this season.
Betting on the NHL is a thrill for those who love sports and for those who love to bet. Just remember that the game can be quite difficult to predict, so don’t get too carried away by past performance records or surprising last-minute comebacks. It’s always a good idea to stay away from betting on the NHL if you’re looking for a way to win large sums of money. Nevertheless, if you’re a big enough fan, it might be worth a try. Just remember that you don’t _want_ to bet on the Sharks this season if you’re looking for a way to lose money.