How to Bet on the Stanley Cup Playoffs – Hockey Odds Explained
Many people will be looking to place a bet on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for some it will be their very first time. Gambling911.com is happy to offer this tutorial.
How to Bet on Hockey
There are a lot of great options available at our sportsbook for betting on hockey and the Stanley Cup. You can choose to bet sides, totals, parlays, props and Stanley Cup futures. NHL betting is done based on a money line so all you need to do is pick a winning side or a total. If you are looking for bigger payouts then you will definitely want to check out the NHL props and the NHL futures where you can get a great return on your investment.
What is a Moneyline?
When betting the moneyline, the team you bet on simply needs to win though you will typically have to risk more on the favorite (a higher price) while the payout will likely be more substantial for the underdog.
In Game 2 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago required a $17.10 bet to win $10 with the line listed as -171. Nashville would pay out $15.40 for every $10 bet with the line listed at +154.
What is the Puck Line When Betting Hockey?
The favorite must defeat their opponent by more than the point spread in order for the bet to win. A typical point spread in hockey is listed as -1.5 or +1.5.
More Hockey Betting Options
Total betting in terms of points and total betting in terms of team goals for each opponent are other popular bets offered.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule Model
The NHL seeds teams from 1 through 8 in each conference. The first round which is also known as the conference quarterfinals has 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5. In the second round which is known as the conference semifinals, the teams are re-seeded. This is unlike the NBA playoffs where the 1 vs. 8 winner takes on the 4 vs. 5 winner. The next round is the Conference Finals and the final round is the Stanley Cup Finals where the conference winners player each other. All of the playoffs are best-of-seven game series.
- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
