Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played professionally in North America and some places in Europe, Australia, and Asia. It is one of the most exciting sports to watch because of the speed and the skill that the players possess.
Based on this uniqueness, it is not surprising that hockey has become somewhat of a gambling sport. The lines move quickly and the action is often intense. This makes the sport an appealing one for bettors. Fortunately, hockey is a sport that is often easy to follow and makes it accessible for people who have never placed a wager before.
Goals, Overtimes, And Shootouts
Hockey is a fast-paced game and most people are familiar with the three-to-five-minute-per-period format. This makes it easy to keep track of the action and whether or not the game is fixed (in which case there is no scoring) or if it is a true competition (free play).
Hockey is mostly a shooting sport and most teams have at least one shooter. This makes it easy to wager on the number of goals that a team will score. Similarly, many hockey leagues use a 3-on-3 format for their games which creates more goals and exciting gameplay.
However, it is not just about shooting. Defensive play is also important and a lot of skill is required to defend your teammates’ shots effectively. This aspect of the game can be more difficult to handicap.
Straight Up Wins, O/U Wins, And Puck Starts
Most sports fans are aware of the different types of wagers that can be made in sports gambling. Bettors can wager on the outcome of a game or competition or they can wager on the performance of a specific player or team. In many cases, people will simply wager on the over/under (O/U) performance of a team or player.
In hockey, you can make wagers on the straight up result (SUR) of a game or competition. This includes the total number of goals and the amount of time that the game will take. However, betting on the puck starts is also popular in hockey. This means that a wager can be made on which team will score the first goal, which player will score next, or whether or not a goal will be scored at all.
In some cases, people will simply bet on the favorite player of a particular team to score the first or next goal. Alternatively, they may bet on a straight up win or loss. This can be further complicated by whether or not there will be an overtime or a shootout.
Penalty Shots, Power Plays, And Overtimes
One of the more interesting aspects of the game of hockey is the ability to wager on the outcome of a penalty shot. A penalty shot is a situation in which a player is given a penalty for cheating during a play. The offending player then has a chance to redeem himself by hitting the puck into the opposing net. This is usually done by kicking or punching the puck at the goal.
Penalty shots are interesting because they are a one-on-one situation between the goalie and the player who is trying to score. This makes it easier to place a valid wager because there are clear-cut chances for either the goalie or the player to score. It also makes it easier to follow the outcome.
Power plays are also relatively easy to follow because the puck always stays in the center and there is frequently an obvious player (usually a defenseman) that is getting the puck. This also makes it easy to place a valid wager because you will always know which player is responsible for the puck.
In some cases, people make it a habit to bet on the favorite player of a particular team to score a goal during an overtime period. This is because of the belief that the game will eventually be resolved in favor of the favorite player. Similarly, people may bet on a loss during an overtime period because the opposite team will eventually win the game.
Overtimes are also interesting because they are relatively low-scoring periods. However, the important thing to keep in mind is that they are longer than the three-to-five minute-per-period format that is generally used for games. This means that there is more opportunity to score. In most cases, the last period of a game will go overtime because teams are always fighting for a playoff spot. This creates the opportunity to score goals that would not be possible in a standard three-to-five-minute period.
What Types Of Goals And Odds To Look For
In the world of hockey betting, there are several types of goals that you will encounter. Some of the more popular types include: