Today's Best NHL Bets | Expert Picks & Analysis (2024)

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Pay Attention to Matchups & Competing Teams

The NHL league consists of 32 teams divided into four divisions – Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central, and Pacific. Each of these divisions has specific elements that every bettor should know.

For example, the Pacific Division is known for teams that score a lot of goals. On the other hand, the Atlantic Division is known for its rivalries. In other words, your NHL best bets will depend on the division you choose and the head-to-head matchups.

Track the Performance and Form of the Players

The team's overall form and the players' individual form play a key role in how a team will look on the rink. Since ice hockey is a fast-paced game with demanding game schedules, many players will fail the endurance test, which may result in injuries that will take them off the field for short or long periods.

To ensure you are placing the best NHL bets, pay attention to the dynamics that certain players bring to the game, that is, how their absence affects the rest of the team and their success.

Stay Up to Date With the Latest Trends and Pay Attention to Historical Data

The last factors that will help you place the best NHL bets this week are related to trends and historical data. On that note, trends in the NHL league change every season, so it's crucial to keep up with the latest happenings on the rink.

For example, some teams perform better at home, while others strive when playing away. This means you should always look at the team's weekly and monthly schedules beforehand.

You should also consider the teams' performance in previous seasons, head-to-head matches, and rivalries. For example, you should know who won the Stanley Cup last year, which players scored the most goals, which team has the best defensive line, etc. All these factors will be your allies when choosing NHL best bets.

NHL Strategy 1: Place Over Bets in the Third Period

NHL Strategy 2: Give In-Play Betting a Try

Sometimes the best bets NHL matches have to offer can be found during games. That said, one of the most profitable and least risky strategies you can use is to place live in-game bets.

First of all, you'll be able to place totals more accurately. Secondly, seeing the starting lineups gives you more insight into the game and strategy. However, remember that live odds will vary more than the pre-game odds.

For example, if the pre-game odds for the match between VGK Golden Knights and FLA Panthers stand at -120 and +100, the odds will change significantly if the FLA Panthers score the first goal.

NHL Strategy 3: Bet On the Underdogs

Betting on favorites will not always guarantee you victory. Namely, sometimes the underdogs can be in a much better form. On that note, we recommend you bet on underdogs in the following scenarios:

• If the underdogs have three wins in their 2 to 3 previous games

• If the favorite plays at home after an away game

• If the favorite plays the second game in a row in two days

NHL Strategy 4: Place Parlay Bets on Favorites

Parlays offer great advantages to bettors because, with one ticket and a small stake, you can win big amounts. The best NHL bets associated with parlays include moneylines, puck lines, and totals. If you plan to bet on the favorites, we recommend you use moneyline parlays since they will increase your potential winnings.

However, we advise you to create moneyline parlays with at most 3 teams. Moreover, avoid parlaying moneylines on underdogs since these types of bets are riskier.

NHL Strategy 5: Analyze Tactical Approaches & Strategies

Each NHL division is known for its style of play. For example, teams from the Pacific Division use an offensive strategy that results in a large number of goals. You won't go wrong if you place total bets on, say, Anaheim Ducks vs Calgary Flames.

On the other hand, when it comes to the Atlantic Division, the best NHL bets this week may include over/under bets, as many Eastern Conference games go to overtime. With that in mind, pay attention to the strategies and tactical approaches that teams use. This will help you predict the outcomes of the matches more precisely.

Different Types of NHL Best Bets

There are several ways you can wager on an NHL game, and some of the most popular betting types are:

Props Bets

NHL Prop bets are wagers related to anything but the final game outcome. They can include game props, team props, and player props. For example, if you want to place a player prop, you can wager on Connor McDavid scoring a goal vs. Calgary. On the other hand, if you want to place a team prop, you can put your money on the Blues if you believe they will score the first goal against the Coyotes.

Prop bets can also include:

• Total number of goals scored

• Total shots on goal

• Number of assists

• Number of blocked shots

• Double chance or a tie

• Penalty minutes

Parlays

Parlays are types of bets that allow you to combine several bets into a single bet. In other words, you’ll be betting on multiple outcomes. However, if you want to win a parlay bet, all your selected bets must be winning.

On that note, you can also place same-game parlays, which means that your bets will revolve around one team, both teams or individual players. You can combine moneyline bet, puck line bet, and over/under bet. For example, you can place a moneyline bet on the Stars winning against the Golden Knights, a puck line bet on the Stars winning by two goals, and an over/under bet.

Some of the best bets NHL parlays can include are:

• Moneyline parlays

• Over/Under parlays

• Puck line parlays

Point Spread/Puck Line

Spread bets are not as popular in ice hockey betting as they are in other sports, such as football. Moreover, in sportsbooks, you may find them under the term puck line. With NHL puck line bets, you'll get to choose whether to bet on the favorites or the underdogs to win the match by at least two goals.

Let’s say you want to place a puck line bet on the Hurricanes vs. Devils match. The sportsbook considers the Hurricanes as favorites, which means that their puck line will be -1.5, while the Devils will have a puck line of +1.5 since they are considered underdogs. If you bet on the Hurricanes, they will have to win by at least two points. If you bet on the Devils, they will have to lose by two or more points.

Moneylines

Moneylines are probably the best NHL bets since they are the simplest. They include betting on the victory of one team. Sportsbooks will offer you to bet either on favorites or underdogs. Favorites will be marked with a minus sign (-), while underdogs will have a plus (+) sign next to them. For example, a moneyline bet can look like this:

• FLA Panthers +110 vs. VGK Golden Knights -130

As you can guess, betting on underdogs will bring you bigger payouts. However, it also comes with greater risks. So, if you decide to place a moneyline bet on the underdog, we advise you to follow the teams' performance during the season.

Totals

Total bets in ice hockey represent the total number of goals scored by both teams. These types of bets can also include over and under-wagers, the amount of which will be set by the sportsbook you are betting on.

For example, if in the match between Florida and Vegas, over/under bets are set at 5.5, it means that the team you bet on will have to give 6 goals if you place over bets or 5 goals if you place under bets. If the final result equals the total, i.e., it ends in a tie; the bet will be considered a "push bet," which means that the sportsbook will refund your bets.

Futures

Your best picks this week can also include NHL futures. You can wager on future games by trying to predict who will win the Stanley Cup, the NHL Championship, or which player will receive the NHL Conn Smythe Trophy. This type of bet is very popular among hockey fans as it offers massive odds.

For example, the odds for a future match between LA Kings and Pit Penguins can be +2500 and +3000, respectively. This means that if you bet $100 on the LA Kings to win, and the LA Kings win, you'll be able to cash out $250,000. That said, you'll find future bets on sportsbooks before the start of the season. Keep in mind that they are also prone to frequent changes.

Grand Salami

When it comes to finding the best NHL bets, you'll often come across the term “Grand Salami.“ This type of wager allows bettors to place total bets on all games played that day, that is, to try to guess the total number of goals that day. For example, Grand Salami can stand between 50 and 60 goals per 10 games, and overtime goals are also included.

Before placing this type of bet, pay attention to the following:

• Number of teams playing that day

• Goalkeepers

• Check if the teams that play are high-scoring or defensive-oriented

• Check if the teams are playing back-to-back games

60 Minute Line

This bet type, called a three-way line, is similar to moneylines. However, the 60-minute line only applies to betting on the final score within 3 periods. This means that your favorite team must win or draw within 60 minutes, as overtime will not count.

For example, you can bet that in the match between Nashville Predators vs. Washington Capitals, the Predators will win within regular time, the Capitals will win within 60 minutes, or that the game will end in a draw within regular time.

Although 60-minute line bets sound like the safest option, keep in mind that if the game goes into overtime, you’ll lose the bet.

Best Bet Opportunities

Getting the Most Out of Best Bets

Best Bet Bonuses and Sign Up Offers

Last but not least, we ensured that the best NHL bets were also linked to generous welcome bonuses, including free bets on lost wagers.

While the amount of free bets will vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, all offers will come with specific wagering requirements and time limits. Sign up bonuses will boost your bankroll, however, you won't be able to cash out bonus bets. Instead, you'll have to use them to place future bets.

Use Responsible Gambling Tools

Sports betting stops being fun if you lose control. That's why all legit sportsbooks offer responsible gambling tools to their players to help them manage their bankroll better and thus avoid financial problems related to online gambling. Some of the most common tools include:

• Deposit limits

• Wagering limits

• Time out sessions

• Cool off periods

• Self-exclusion

Set Daily Limits

You should set your daily limits to ensure that you won't lose more than you can afford to. Decide how much money you will allocate monthly for sports betting and keep that money in a separate account.

You can also keep a record of your bets to see how often you win and lose. Never bet if you are going through a stressful period in your life or if you're under the influence of alcohol. It's also important not to chase your losses and not to increase the amount of your bets if you are on a winning streak.

There Is No Guarantee of Winning

Seek Professional Advice

If you feel like you're becoming addicted to sports betting, you should seek professional advice. These support organizations can help you with this issue: