With hockey being one of the exclusive team events at the recently completed Beijing Olympics, it is time for bettors to turn their attention to the NHL.
Hockey is unfamiliar territory for many players, so here’s an introduction to betting on NHL games and a look at the potential Stanley Cup champion.
For more information, from gambling-friendly calendars featuring live updated odds to expert analysis and the most wagered games of the day, check out the NHL section on the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com!
Hockey is unique among sports to bet on.
First, there really is an advantage to playing at home. The home team makes the last line change during play stoppages to face the visiting skaters on the ice.
Of course, another unique feature of hockey is that the players are constantly changing while the game is in progress. Players are on the ice for an average of 45 seconds at a time.
Most NHL games have a point difference, called the puck line, of 1.5 goals. This brings up another unique aspect of hockey: shooting the goaltender.
If a team is trailing at the end of the third period and the situation is correct, the coach will call the goaltender off the ice in favor of an additional skater. The goal is unprotected as the team behind try to attack for the potential equalizing goal.
Many bettors have covered or lost on an empty net goal late in the third period.
In general, NHL games have a pregame plus/minus of 5.5 to 6.5 goals: total goals scored by both teams combined (the .5 ensures no ties). Some punters like to ride a hot goalie, like a starting pitcher who is on a roll, to keep the score down or win the game outright.
Some bettors prefer to bet on combo combinations of multiple games rather than bet on a single contest, said Jeff Stoneback, BetMGM’s Director of Operations.
“Hockey is a lot like baseball. The recreational bettor likes to bet a lot on hockey,” Stoneback said. “Obviously the public like to bet on the favourite, and they’ll put in a goal and a half instead of putting in odds, so it’s pretty standard that they play a three, four or five team parlay because they like to bet on the favourites.”
For punters just getting started with betting on the NHL, here are some of the best players and teams to know about (as you head into Monday’s games):
TOP FIVE PLAYERS IN TOTAL POINTS
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers center, 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists)
Jonathan Huberdeau, left winger for the Florida Panthers, 70 points (17 goals, 53 assists)
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers center, 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists)
Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche center, 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists)
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames left back, 63 points (20 goals, 43 assists)
TOP FIVE GOALS WITH LESS GOALS -AGAINST THE AVERAGE-**
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers, 1.97 GAA (24-5-3 record)
Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames, 2.09 GAA (22-10-5)
Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes, 2.10 GAA (26-7-2)
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2.27 GAA (26-8-4)
Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2.29 GAA (25-10-6)
** = played in at least half of team games
TOP FIVE SCORING TEAMS
Florida Panthers, 4.12 goals per game (GPG)
Colorado Avalanche, 3.98 GPG
Minnesota Wild, 3.81 GPG
Toronto Maple Leaves, 3.58 GPG
St.Louis Blues, 3.53 GPG
TOP FIVE DEFENSIVE TEAMS
Calgary Flames, 2.35 goals allowed per game (GA/G)
Carolina Hurricanes, 2.41 GA/G
New York Rangers, 2.50 GA/G
Pittsburgh Penguins, 2.60 GA/G
New York Islanders, 2.71 GA/G
The award for being the best team in the NHL is one of the most prized trophies in professional sports, the Lord Stanley Cup.
The Montreal Canadiens have the most Stanley Cup titles with 24, but the last one came in 1993. They are also the last Canadian-based franchise to lift the Cup. Twenty NHL teams have won the Stanley Cup.
Currently, the Avalanche are the betting favorites to win their third Stanley Cup. The Panthers are second on the betting favorites list. If they won, this would be their first Cup.
The favorite team of an entire province, the Maple Leafs, rank third on the list of title contenders. The Original Six team seeks its 14th Stanley Cup, but first, since 1967, the last time the storied franchise advanced to the championship round.
Here are the Stanley Cup futures odds for each NHL team.
ODDS OF WINNING THE STANLEY CUP (via FOX Bet)*
Colorado Avalanche +450 (bet $10 to win $55)
Florida Panthers +650 (bet $10 to win $75)
Toronto Maple Leafs +700 (bet $10 to win $80)
Tampa Bay Lightning +750 (bet $10 to win $85)
Carolina Hurricanes +800 (bet $10 to win $90)
Vegas Golden Knights +850 (bet $10 to win $95)
Pittsburgh Penguins +1100 (bet $10 to win $120)
Calgary Flames +1300 (bet $10 to win $140)
Minnesota Wild +1400 (bet $10 to win $150)
New York Rangers +1600 (bet $10 to win $170)
Washington Capitals +2000 (bet $10 to win $210)
St. Louis Blues +2200 (bet $10 to win $230)
Edmonton Oilers +2200 (bet $10 to win $230)
Boston Bruins +2200 (bet $10 to win $230)
Nashville Predators +3000 (bet $10 to win $310)
Los Angeles Kings +4000 (bet $10 to win $410)
Dallas Stars +4000 (bet $10 to win $410)
Anaheim Ducks +6000 (bet $10 to win $610)
Winnipeg Jets +6000 (bet $10 to win $610)
New York Islanders +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010)
Vancouver Canucks +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510)
San Jose Sharks +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510)
Detroit Red Wings +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010)
Columbus Blue Jackets +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510)
Seattle Kraken +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510)
Chicago Blackhawks +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010)
Philadelphia Flyers +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010)
Montreal Canadiens +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010)
New Jersey Devils +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010)
Ottawa Senators +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010)
Buffalo Sabers +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010)
Arizona Coyotes +100,000 (bet $10 to win $10,010)
* Fees as of 02/21/2022
If you’re betting a few bucks on who will put the cookie in the basket or who will lift Lord Stanley’s Cup at the end of June, be sure to head over to FOX Bet to place your bets.
Play FOX Super 6 every week for a chance to win thousands of dollars every week. Just download the Super 6 app and make your selections today!
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