By Nick Savage
Many bettors think that betting on the NHL is pretty straightforward. The puck line is 1.5, similar to the run line in baseball, meaning the favorite is always a 1.5-goal favorite. What changes are the odds of them winning by that spread. There is, of course, the money line and over/under on the menu also like in most other sports.
However, in the world of sports betting, NHL teams’ unique penchant for not confirming starting goalies until shortly before the opening puck drop can be a source of frustration for bettors looking to make informed wagers. Without knowing which goalie will start, it is impossible to know which way to bet since it is probably the most crucial position on the ice. To compound this issue, unlike baseball bets, which are nullified when starting pitchers are changed before the game, no such luxury is afforded the early bettors who end up assuming one “expected’ goalie only to be surprised by a late “confirmed” replacement.
One of the reasons for the delayed lineup release is that the visiting team must post its lineup before the home team. This tradition is designed to give the home team a strategic advantage, as they are able to see which players the opposing coach has selected and adjust their own lineup accordingly. This advantage can be particularly important when it comes to selecting the starting goaltender, as this position is often critical to a team’s success. By knowing which goalie the opposing team has selected, the home team can make sure to select a goaltender who is particularly effective against that player’s style of play or another team’s backup goalie.
Here are a few other unique facts about the NHL that bettors should know:
Overtime rules in the NHL differ slightly between the regular season and playoffs. The NHL introduced regular season shootouts in 2005 to make sure there were no more ties after overtime. The teams play a five-minute overtime period before going to a shootout (if still tied). In the playoffs, the teams play successive twenty-minute overtime periods until one team scores, so there are no shootouts to determine the winner of the game. In betting terms, this means that the total goals bet includes goals scored in regulation plus one for the winner in overtime. For example, if a bettor wagers on the total goals to go over 4.5 and the game goes into overtime tied 2-2, that bettor is assured a win because whether the goal is scored in overtime or one team wins in a shootout, one goal is awarded to the winning team and the final score will always be 3-2. One note, overtime goals for individual players count toward their game and season totals if they score in overtime but not in a shootout.
It’s important for hockey bettors to stay up-to-date on team news and be prepared to adapt their betting strategies accordingly and Only Players is working to bring our players the most updated information on starting NHL goalies so they have the chance to make better decisions with their bankrolls.
