The Betsson sportsbook offers fair and competitive NHL odds across all regular-season and playoff matches. The NHL is the biggest ice hockey competition in the world, where the best players lace up their skates and vie for the famous Stanley Cup. Follow the season every step of the way with Betsson's wide range of ice hockey betting options.
Overview of the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL) is the top ice hockey league in the world, having started in 1917. One of the most renowned eras in NHL history is the 'Original Six,' which ran from 1942 to 1967. It featured the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As interest in the competition grew, naturally, the Original Six expanded, and in today's modern game, there are now 32 NHL franchises. While the NHL is a North American league, players of multiple nationalities play in it with the dream of winning the Stanley Cup, the most coveted trophy in ice hockey.
The most successful NHL team of all time remains the legendary Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are the only team to have won at least 20 Stanley Cup titles, with their 2021 crown taking their total to 24. Besides them, only the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs have recorded at least ten.
How to Bet On NHL
Here are the essential factors to pay attention to when you want to bet on ice hockey:
Home-Ice Advantage
One of the most significant factors is home-ice advantage. NHL teams tend to play much better in their home arena. So, when sizing up a match, pay close attention to who has home ice—it could make a difference.
Injuries
Injuries and starting line-ups are another crucial thing to watch for in NHL betting. Hockey is a physically intense game, so injuries happen constantly. If a team's best scorer or goalie goes down, it can completely disrupt their chemistry and hurt their chances of winning.
Elite Goaltending
An elite goalie can single-handedly steal games and series for their team. If one team has a significant edge in outstanding goaltending, that could impact your betting decisions.
Popular NHL Betting Markets
Betsson covers every angle of the season, from the long-term pre-season outrights to live bets. Here are some of the most popular NHL betting markets, which can also be found for ice hockey championship odds at Betsson.
Outright
The 'Outright' is one of the most straightforward NHL betting markets, betting on which team will win the game. 'Outright' NHL odds show the favourite with lower odds and the underdog with higher odds.
Total Goals
An over/under bet on the total combined goals scored in a game. The 'Over/Under' is usually set around 5.5 or 6.5 goals; variations include the total goals in a period or scored by a particular team.
Puck Line
The 'Puck Line' is hockey's version of handicapping. This NHL betting option requires the favourite to win by more than the selected number, usually -1.5 goals, while an underdog could get a +1.5 goal head start.
NHL Playoff Betting
The most exciting point of the season is when the NHL playoffs arrive and the season shifts gears into a knockout format. Teams then compete in a Series, and you can find 'To Win Series' and 'Series Correct Score' options for NHL betting.
The NHL playoff format for 2024/25 remains the same, with six teams automatically qualifying and two wild card entries for the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each playoff round is a best-of-seven series, where the first team to win four games advances.
NHL Betting Tips
Predicting NHL games can be challenging, but statistics can lend a helping hand for pre-match and live odds. Click on any match listing for NHL odds to get in-depth statistics ranging from head-to-head markets, scoring form, latest results, and standings.
Manage your betting balance by having a strategy for NHL betting, from planned options on outrights like the 'Eastern Conference Winners' to backing a team to win the series by a correct score in NHL playoff odds. For further insights, look for great previews on the Betsson blog.
NHL 2024 Season
The Florida Panthers start the new season as the reigning NHL champions. The Atlantic Division winners were one of the title favourites in our NHL odds and cruised through the playoffs to meet the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals.
The 2024 Stanley Cup finals looked like it would be over quickly as Florida raced out to a 3–0 series lead. But then a massive 8-1 win for Edmonton in Game Four turned the tide, and the series eventually went to a deciding Game 7, which the Panthers secured with a 2-1 victory.
The new NHL season opens in early October, with the New Jersey Devils facing the Buffalo Sabres. Last season's Stanley Cup runners-up, Edmonton, are the pre-season favourites to land this season's title. You can get odds for a bet on all NHL matches at Betsson, along with plenty of new season outrights.
Leading the charge behind the Oilers in NHL betting are the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers, with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers strong outsider selections. The 2024/25 Stanley Cup playoffs begin in mid-April 2025.
Why Bet on the NHL at Betsson?
Betsson is your home for regular season and NHL playoffs betting, as we cover every match and series with in-depth markets. We are a licensed and regulated platform backed by eCOGRA as a safe and fair online sportsbook.
Along with our 24/7 customer support, should you need assistance, all transactions made with us are secured by high-end encryption. You can use any of our quick, safe payment options on desktop or mobile to manage your account. Your data is safely stored, and we also support responsible gambling with various tools.
