This guide will take a look at what you need to know about ice hockey predictions and betting on the sport – and provide the most insightful ice hockey predictions.
These betting predictions will help you make your selections when it comes to all the biggest ice hockey games.
Ice Hockey Predictions for Today
The NHL is the biggest and most popular ice hockey league in the world. But there are plenty of other countries where the sport is very popular – and that means that there are a lot of opportunities to use our ice hockey betting tips.
Here are the best ice hockey predictions for today – and keep reading to find out how to use these ice hockey betting tips.
Ice Hockey Correct Score Predictions
These ice hockey predictions are designed for the correct score markets. They are exactly what they say they are – the final score of the game. Winning bets need to be perfect to bring in returns. Our experts will take a look at the two teams playing to work out what they predict the score to be.
Here is today’s correct score prediction.
Ice Hockey Over/Under Predictions
If the odds don’t look good for picking a winner or the correct score, you could try your hand with an over/under prediction. This is where you just have to bet on there being more or fewer goals than the over/under the total. It could be an ice hockey over 5.5 prediction – or another total.
Here is today’s over/under prediction.
Ice Hockey Handicap Predictions
Handicap predictions help to even up the chances of both teams’ chances of winning. There is no underdog and favorite here. One of the teams will be given a goal or two head-start handicapping the favorite. Even if the underdog still loses you could win the bet taking the handicap into account.
Here is today’s handicap prediction.
Ice Hockey Livescore Predictions
These ice hockey predictions are for games that are happening at the time of the bet. This in play market is always popular, as fans will regularly be following the action to inform their selections.
Here is today’s livescore prediction.
Ice Hockey 1X2 Predictions
This betting market will be very familiar to anyone who is used to any kind of sports betting on events with two teams. The 1 is a bet for the home team to win, the X is for a draw to be the end result – and the 2 is for the away team to win.
Here is the 1X2 prediction for today.
Ice Hockey Bet of the Day Predictions
Our team does a lot of research to come up with their ice hockey betting tips. You could go with any of the ones above – or you could select our very special bet of the day.
Here is today’s Bet of the Day prediction.
Bet on Ice Hockey Predictions
Finland
USA
Czechia
Switzerland
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Hungary
Canada
Finland
Hungary
Japan
Switzerland
Canada
USA
Czechia
Norway
Germany
How to Read Ice Hockey Odds
So, now you know what we are predicting to happen in the world of ice hockey. But, if you are a newcomer to the sport – or to sports betting in general – you will also need to know how to read the ice hockey odds offered by the online betting sites.
Odds Format
The main thing to know about reading ice hockey odds is that you should first decide on your preferred format. Most betting sites will offer fractional, decimal, and American. As the NHL is a North American league you may have seen game odds listed in the American format, but you can choose what is easier for you to understand.
An example of fractional odds would be New York Rangers at 3/1 to win. If those odds were listed in the decimal format it would be 4.00. The American odds format would have the same price listed as +300. With American odds, the favorite will be listed with a negative sign, eg. -110 – and the underdog with a positive.
It can be any market – like the ice hockey over 5.5 predictions, for example – and they can be listed in any format. Just choose the format that you are most familiar and happy with.
Puck Line
It is probably important to mention the term ‘puck line’ here. You may have heard the match result odds referred to as money line if you have any experience of US betting odds. Puck line is specifically an ice hockey betting term and is similar to the spread with American football games.
The puck line is essentially the amount of goals handicap attributed to a game. With this market one of the teams will be given a certain number of goals head start to even up the chances of ‘winning’.
Ice Hockey Betting Tips
When it comes to betting on ice hockey there is nothing that is more effective than doing your research and getting a grounding in the sport. Knowing what to expect from teams and players is the best starting off point any fan can get. But there are a few more things you can do to help with your ice hockey predictions.
Check Who is in Goal
It is not a particularly controversial position to take that the goalie is the most important player on an ice hockey team. If you are relatively new to the sport you may be confused as you will have only heard about the big stars like Wayne Gretsky and Alexander Ovechkin.
But it is the selection of the goalies that will affect the score more than any star. Make sure you know who the best goal tenders are – and, more importantly, when they are taking a rest day. The NHL season is a long one and even the best players will be rested from time to time. When an elite goalie is rested it is time to find the value odds.
Know the Better Value Markets
As with any sport, you are more likely to find better value odds if you explore the markets. Bookmakers will rely on bettors keeping with the main markets but there is definitely something to be said for looking at the totals and puck line prices.
If you know more about the game and what kind of totals to expect from a certain team, for example, you will be able to bet with more confidence. As the NHL season is so long you should concentrate on the single-game markets rather than season-long odds.
Utilise Handicap Markets
As we mentioned, the handicap markets can be a particularly good place to look for better value odds. This is especially true when one of the top teams play a weaker opponent. Even the best teams will lose around a third of their regular-season games, so finding a good handicap on the underdog is very possible.
Separate Regular Season from the Playoffs
This is especially true in the NHL but can be applied to other leagues around the world as well. Everything changes once the playoffs start and you cannot rely too much on the regular-season form to inform your betting.
Take a look at the individual player matchups and don’t take too much from the previous head-to-heads. Although there will be some information there, it is more important to look at the recent form and who has the better team. Postseason NHL games can be unpredictable, so don’t be worried about taking a few risks here.
Ice Hockey Predictions FAQs
We have gone through some specifics in this guide. But you should make sure that you have a grounding in the sport before exploring the betting markets – just like any sport.
There is no guaranteed method of winning ice hockey bets. But keep up with the game and do your research and you will have given yourself more information to make your selections.
This is when a bookmaker has given one team a 1.5 goals head start to even up the chances of them winning. Any final score will need the 1.5 added to decide the result as far as this handicap bet goes.
NHL betting is much the same as betting on any other sport or league. Do your research and then explore the NHL betting markets at your chosen online betting site. The process of placing a bet will be exactly the same as any other wager.