To get started with NHL betting, it’s important to understand how odds work and their potential. In a hockey matchup, there is always a favorite and an underdog. The favorite team is the team that is most likely to win in a given matchup and has odds that are denoted with a minus sign like -150. The underdog in a given matchup is the team that is less likely to win, and normally receives positive odds like +150.

For quick math purposes, you can look at negative odds like -120 and imagine that this is how much you must bet to win $100. For example, if you bet $150 with odds of -150, a winning bet would return $100 and so on. On the opposite side of the spectrum, when you bet on positive odds you can imagine the odds are how much you will win for every $100 bet. At odds of +150, a $100 bet would return $150 on top of your initial bet for a total payout of $250. OddsChecker always lists the most current NHL odds available in the market.

NHL lines refer to the point spread betting system. When you are betting on the spread, you are betting on the point margin between the two teams. The favorite team gets a point handicap and the underdog is given extra points. At the end of the game, you add or subtract points from your team’s final score and then if your team has more points than their opponent, your point spread bet is successful.

The NHL lines are set by leading sportsbooks and then open to betting action. The margin will be set with numbers like +1.5 or -1.5 and each side will have corresponding odds of your chosen team beating the spread. This will look like +150, or -150, normally one side will have positive odds and the other will have negative odds showing that it is more likely that one team beats the spread than the other.

To determine how much you could potentially win, think off these odds as percentages. Odds of +200 mean that on top of your initial bet, let's say $100, you will receive 200%. A $100 bet would bring you an extra $200, for a total payout of $300. On the opposite side, -200 odds could be looked at like 1/2 or 50% on top of your initial bet. A $100 wager would bring you $50 for a total payout of $150. You can easily see that betting on the underdog normally has the potential for a much bigger payday, but favorites win more in the long run. It’s up to you to decide on the perfect betting system for yourself, and always refer to OddsChecker to find the best NHL lines.

In NHL betting, there are several types of wagers that stand out as the most popular. These will be the standard offerings that most sportsbooks will support. Before you get started with sports betting, it’s important to become familiar with all of these types of wagers.

Moneyline:

Across all sports betting markets, moneyline is one of the most popular types of wagers. In team based sports, normally moneyline is the second favorite after point spread bets. Due to the low scoring nature of hockey, moneyline is actually more popular than point spread bets. In a moneyline wager, you are placing a bet on which team you think will win overall. This is a simple and straightforward system that cuts out a lot of variables.

Point Spread:

When you hear the phrase “NHL lines”, they are referring to the point spread of a given hockey matchup. Point spread is a very popular type of bet in team based sports. With this system, you are concerning yourself with the point differential of the final score in a matchup. The favorite in a matchup is given negative points and the underdog is given extra points. After the final score of a game is in, you either add or subtract points from your team’s total depending on which side of the bet you are on. If your team has the higher score after this, your bet is successful.

Puck line:

Hockey in general can be a low scoring sport. For this reason, point spread betting is less popular than in other sports. This has led to the creation of the puck line bet which is similar to run line in baseball. In a way, puck line is moneyline combined with point spread. If you bet on puck line, your chosen team must win by at least two goals. If they instead only win by one goal, or lose outright, then your bet is unsuccessful.

Total (Over/Under):

Known as a total bet or over/under, this type of wager is very easy to understand. In this scenario, you are placing a wager on whether or not you think the total accumulative score of both teams will exceed a certain predetermined amount. This is interesting because you need to predict how the offense and defense of the opposing teams will match up together.

Prop Bets:

Prop bets have the potential to be the most interesting out of all the standard offerings. With prop bets, the only limits are what your chosen sportsbooks will take bets for. If you are interested in placing a wager on how many goals will be scored in the first period, whether the game will go into over time, or even if there will be any penalties, prop bets are there to allow for this type of betting action, depending on what your sportsbook allows.

As a sports better, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that you are always getting the best NHL odds available before you place any wager. This is crucial to ensuring that you are profitable in the long run. NHL betting lines are dynamic and constantly changing in response to betting action and news in the league. It can be challenging for any individual to keep up with it all. OddsChecker was designed with this purpose in mind. We keep track of the NHL odds for you and we continuously update our grids to reflect the latest changes. Not only that, but our team of handicapper experts are here to provide their valuable insight and deliver to you the bestNHL picks and parlays available online, absolutely free.

The leading sportsbooks will of course display the betting odds that they have available, but only OddsChecker compares the odds across numerous different platforms so you can easily and efficiently compare to find the best odds and lines available. After you find attractive odds, you can read our comprehensive reviews on the leading platforms and their welcome bonuses.

There are some very strong teams heading into the playoffs this season. The NHL playoff odds show that teams like the Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche are neck and neck. Many fans believe the Vegas Golden Knights are the team to beat this year. After performing incredibly in a season that saw them with over 35 wins, they are now carrying their momentum over to the playoffs. The Boston Bruins currently have the best record in the entire NHL with over 40 wins and they are still going strong. While you can make a case for several teams, according to the Las Vegas NHL Odds, the Vegas Golden Knights may have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup overall this season.

Sportsbooks are known to offer different NHL lines and odds than their competitors. This all comes down to the betting action on the individual sportsbooks. Bettors move the odds one way or another when they place their wagers. Depending on what country they’re in and their background, traders on these platforms may have different views on matchups and tournaments. This will lead to many scenarios where you can get better value for your bet if you choose to use a different platform. To make sure you are profitable in the long run, you should always choose to place your wager on the best NHL betting lines available.

Professional sports bettors know that great odds don’t last long. It’s important to place your wager as soon as you find good value for your pick. The OddsChecker platform was designed to help you find the best odds available quickly and efficiently by bringing all of the different sportsbooks together in one place. Always check here first before you decide to place a bet anywhere.

When you are looking for the best NHL odds online, you will quickly realize that there are many different websites to choose from. In our pursuit of being your #1 resource online for NHL betting, we not only show you the best odds available for your bets, but we also have comprehensive reviews of the leading platforms in the sports betting market. You can refer to our reviews before you decide to sign up for any betting website. All of these platforms are great for different reasons, and some may appeal more to you for their sign up bonuses or funding methods, or many other details. For instance, 888 Sport is a great sports betting website that has been a longtime global leader in the field. They may be an ideal option if you’re looking specifically for a rock-solid and trustworthy platform. DraftKings is another well known platform that is perfect for fans of fantasy sports. For live-betting and live-streaming, you will find that Bet365 is unmatched in these capabilities. Each sportsbook has a lot to offer bettors, and it’s worth it to read our reviews and find the perfect place for your sports betting needs.

•FanDuel: a popular sportsbook and daily fantasy sports (DFS) provider that has a host of creative betting options.

•BetMGM: a leading sportsbook and casino gaming provider that offers NHL Vegas Odds as an affiliate of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

•BetAmerica: an online sportsbook that’s also popular for providing elite racing picks for a diverse range of horseraces.

•DraftKings: a popular sportsbook and DFS provider that focuses on creating daily and weekly contests.

•SugarHouse: an online casino and sportsbook that spearheaded online sports betting in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

•FOX Bet: one of the latest sports betting platforms that was created by partners FOX Sports and The Stars Group.

•888Sports: an online betting giant that got its start in Europe and has since moved across the pond to offer competitive deals in the US.

•ResortsCasino: an online sports betting platform that’s affiliated with the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

•Bet365: an online sports betting and gaming site that’s based in the UK but is one of the most successful platforms worldwide.

•Unibet: an online sports betting and gaming site that’s popular and successful worldwide.