NHL (ICE HOCKEY) GUIDE
NHL is another of the big ‘four’ US sports and with multiple matches taking place on almost every day of the week during the season there is plenty of opportunity to get involved.
However, to many, as with other US Sports it can be confusing. Below is a simple guide explaining the main types of bet you will see advised by tipsters:
MONEY LINE/2-WAY/INCLUDING OVERTIME
A money line or a 2-Way bet is quite simply betting on a team to win. In NHL there is always a result, if the game is tied at the end of regular time it goes to Overtime. If it is still tied then a Shootout takes place. On a money line or 2-Way bet you are betting on the team to win whether it is in regular time, overtime or after the shootout.
Example:
New York Islanders 2.30
Vegas Golden Knights 1.61
If you back the New York Islands and they win by any manner your bet wins.
60 MINUTE BETTING/3-WAY/INCLUDING DRAW/REGULAR TIME
There are different names for this option depending upon the bookie. Essentially it will look the same as when you are betting on football. You will have three options, home win, draw, or away win. Your bet is on the result at the end of regular time hence overtime and a shootout are irrelevant. Consider it like a cup match in football where the bet is paid out on the result after 90 mins and extra time doesn’t count.
Example:
New York Islanders 2.87
Vegas Golden Knights 2.05
Draw 3.80
If you back New York Islanders to win and they do so 5-4 after overtime or a shootout, your bet would lose as it was 4-4 at full time and the result is a draw. If they win in regular time (after 60 mins) you win.
PUCK LINE/ASIAN HANDICAP/SPREAD
This is essentially a handicap bet. It includes overtime and the shootout but in reality they won’t influence it as the most common ‘line’ or ‘spread’ you will see is either + or -1.5.
If you are backing a team at -1.5 then your team must win by two goals or more for your bet to win.
If you are backing a team at +1.5 then they can lose by up to one goal and you will still win.
Example:
New York Islanders +1.5 1.44
Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 2.90
If you back New York Islanders and they lose 4-5 you win the bet.
If you back New York Islanders and they lose 4-6 you lose the bet.
If you back Vegas Golden Knights and they win 6-4 you win the bet.
TOTAL GOALS
This one is fairly self explanatory, you are backing the total number of goals scored in the game inclusive of overtime and the shootout. The winning team in the shootout scores 1 goal.
It is an Over/Under bet so you are backing there to be more or less than a certain number of goals scored.
Example:
Total goals 5.5 Over 1.75 Under 2.10
If you back ‘Over’ you need there to be six or more goals scored to win.
If you back ‘Under’ you need five or less goals scored to win.
