Best NHL Betting Strategy Picks for 2025

If you’re looking to build a successful NHL betting strategy, you’ve come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will help you understand how to bet on hockey games. This includes the most popular markets and NHL betting strategies, while also covering popular ice hockey events.

From betting on the losing streak to leveraging the value of player props, we’ll teach you how to bet on the NHL and realize the full value of your starting bankroll.

How Does Hockey Betting Work?

When answering the question “How does hockey betting work?”, it’s important to understand the sport’s most unique characteristics.

For example, franchises competing in the NHL will play 82 games during the regular season alone, forcing teams to emphasize load management and rotation. Games are also divided into three periods, enabling you to bet on scores and performance statistics in each one.

Like football and baseball betting, ice hockey also unlocks some unique lines and markets. The ‘Puck Line’ is the sport’s equivalent of spread betting. This bet allows you to put a handicap on favorites and back them at enhanced odds.

Learning about these gameplay elements and markets is key to successful NHL betting and creating the optimal strategy! One of the reasons for this ice hockey online betting guide.

Top 7 Ice Hockey Betting Strategies

Now, we’re going to delve deeper into the most effective hockey betting strategies. Such strategies and systems can help to ensure that you enjoy a fun and potentially profitable betting experience, during the NHL regular season, playoffs, and the Stanley Cup.

Lewis Humphries

Sports Betting Expert

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Stanley Cup Historical Stats

The latter is the oldest major sports trophy in North America, having first been contested in 1893 (and won by the Montreal Hockey Club). The Montreal Canadiens hold the record for most wins with 24, the last of which came in 1993, although they were last seen in the final in 2021. Some inspiration to help you construct your own bespoke NHL betting strategy.

#1 – Bet the Losing Streak

Although this may seem like a counterintuitive betting strategy, it has been borne out by data for years now. Betting franchises coming off at least one loss can prove surprisingly profitable. This is even when their opponents are on a winning streak.

During a detailed analysis of this strategy, it was revealed that bettors recorded 2,899 wins and 3,098 defeats. This created a win percentage of 48.3% and a P&L value of -$178.13. While this is a loss, adopting the opposite strategy and backing the in-form team would have yielded a higher loss with a P&L of (-$249.54).

So, betting on the losing streak is an effective way of minimizing loss when wagering on NHL matches, but how can you make this strategy profitable?

Odds play a key role in this NHL betting strategy and its impact on P&L. This is because backing franchises on a losing streak often unlocks enhanced odds. This is especially true, as sportsbooks and the public tend to overreact to individual results.

When dealing with specific odds ranges, there are also prices at which this strategy becomes statistically profitable. For example, when backing losing franchises at odds of between +136 and +171, you’re more likely to see a positive P&L value over a series of matches. Of course, this requires detailed odds analysis before you wager your hard-earned cash.

• Strategy 1 - According to the data, betting on away teams that are on a losing streak is the best strategy. This is especially true when they take on a franchise that won last time out. This unlocks a P&L of -$11.96, as the public’s overreaction to recent results is more pronounced when the home team is in form.
• Strategy 2 - We’d also urge you to appraise wider streaks and the quality of each competing team. After all, leading franchises like the Florida Panthers lost 24 times despite topping the Eastern Atlantic Division in 2023/24. This would mean obvious value immediately after a defeat.
• Strategy 3 - It’s also important to analyze odds both in terms of their potential returns and their implied probability values. For example, backing losing teams with odds of -150 will increase your chances of winning but unlock only nominal profits. Instead, odds of between +136 and +171 have proven to strike the best balance in terms of profitability.

#2 - Know the Goalie

Goalies play a key role in hockey, but franchises regularly rotate their stoppers as part of wider load management strategies. However, a goalie change can have a huge impact on a team’s defensive performance, so it’s important to follow the team changes or injury news ahead of a particular game.

For example, the Edmonton Oilers regularly rotate Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner in goal. However, the former concedes an average of 2.93 goals per game, which is categorized as being ‘below average’ among NHL goalies.

Conversely, teammate Stuart Skinner is the Oilers’ number one and has conceded just 2.69 goals per game during his career. He also has a favorable career save percentage (.910% vs .904%), so the team is likely to concede less when he’s playing between the sticks.

Factoring this into your NHL betting strategy can provide a strong reason for certain picks, such as the over/under on total goals scored and the number of saves made by a particular goalie. It may even encourage you to seek out over/under betting lines that unlock higher potential returns.

• Strategy 1 - Identify the key goalie statistics when comparing performance. The main metrics include a player’s goal against average and save percentage, while you should also consider the number of games the data has been drawn from.
• Strategy 2 - Follow the latest team and injury news to determine which one of a team’s goalies will be starting. This can lead to specific betting line picks, especially when assessing the over/under on total goals scored and how many saves will be made.
• Strategy 3 - Consider each player’s respective form. While career and season save averages can be insightful, they mean less if a player has embarked on a poor run of form or lacking in confidence.

#3 - Jet Lag and Sleep Deprivation

Not only is ice hockey a physically demanding sport, but NHL franchises regularly play 3-4 times each week. What’s more, they may have to spend a considerable amount of time on the road during some game weeks, creating minimal recovery time and the need for careful load management.

This can introduce elements such as fatigue to a team’s performance or may see star players rested. Either way, even favored teams may see their chances of winning diminished, creating the opportunity for value betting.

In the table below, you can see how different schedules and travel scenarios impact the performance of home and away teams. This can help to inform your selections, alongside other factors such as wider form and the respective quality of the competing franchise.

One interesting takeaway here is that the probability of a home win is always higher regardless of the travel circumstances. This is a key consideration, with home-field advantage seeing the hosts win approximately 59% of the time in the NHL. This is higher than American football, where home franchises win around 57.6% of the time.

#4 - Understanding NHL Best Bet Types

Overall, ice hockey betting strategies won’t vary too much from those deployed in the NFL and NBA. This is because you can access many of the same wager types across these sports. Understanding basic sports betting terminology is also useful to know. NHL betting does unlock some unique lines and props. Here’s a summary of the most popular wagers to include in your NHL betting model.

• Moneyline - Moneyline betting requires you to pick the winner of a particular NHL game. The sheer number of regular-season games unlocks a high number of moneylines, while the lack of draws means that there are only two potential outcomes in this market.
• Puck Line - The puck line is ice hockey’s version of spread betting. This enables you to apply a goals’ handicap to a heavy betting favorite (such as -1.5), unlocking enhanced odds in the process. Your bet will come in so long as your pick beats the spread and wins by two goals or more.
• Totals - This market refers to the total number of goals scored in a game. Sportsbooks like BetOnline will set different totals as individual betting lines, and you’ll have to select one (based on analysis) before determining whether the actual total will be over or under this threshold. In 2022/23, an average of 3.14 goals were scored per game in the NHL.
• Period Wagering - Each NHL game is split into three equal periods of 20 minutes. So, although you can wager on the 60-minute line, you can also access a diverse subset of markets for each period. These include period moneylines, totals, and puck lines.
• Futures - Futures describe outright betting markets, which enable you to bet on the winner of each NHL conference or the Stanley Cup. These are a popular component of any NHL betting strategy. They can unlock highly competitive odds due to the number of competing teams and outcomes (especially when you bet early).
• Team Props - Props also feature heavily in hockey betting strategies, particularly those that focus on in-play wagering. Team props can include several lines, such as the scorer of the first goal in a game or alternate puck lines.
• Player Props - Player props unlock an even broader range of markets, as they relate to individual performance metrics. These can be offensive or defensive, but the most popular player props include the leading points scorer, who will have the most goal attempts and assists.
• Parlays - Parlays are bets that include different selections in a single wager. The odds of each outcome are then multiplied to create a single, extended price. While multi-game parlays that back different match winners are most commonplace, operators like BetOnline allow you to construct same-game parlays that incorporate different wager types.
• The Grand Salami - This intriguingly named bet is like a parlay for totals’ markets. Instead of combining different match results in a single wager, you’ll bet the over/under on how many points will be scored across an entire slate of matches. This unlocks significant odds, but your chances of winning are much lower.
• Two-Way Betting - With a classic two-way moneyline, you can either back the home team to win or bet on the visitors to prevail. This is favorable in the NHL as the introduction of overtime in 2005 helped to eliminate the draw as a possible outcome. If the match is tied at the end of regulation time, your bet may be pushed and stake refunded.
• 60-Minute Lines (Three-Way Betting) - This is an extended moneyline that removes overtime as a potential factor. So, you can bet on three different outcomes here: namely either side to win or a regulation time tie. This is ideal for seasoned and analytical bettors, who want to maximize profits on moneyline bets.

#5 - Wagering The NHL Underdog

As we’ve already touched on, odds in the NHL are heavily influenced by public betting. So, underdogs in ice hockey tend to be afforded significantly higher odds, creating potential value bets and a payout that may offset your increased risk.

There are various factors that influence this. The number of regular season games is certainly a leveler, especially as teams have to rotate their best players. There’s also little to choose between different NHL franchises in terms of quality, while home-field advantage here is lower when compared to sports like basketball and soccer.

Winning margins in the NHL are also relatively low, while the juice applied to betting favorites makes underdogs even more appealing. On average, NHL underdogs have between a 43% and 48% chance of winning, which should translate into odds of between +108 and +132. However, they'll often be priced towards the higher end of this range, creating nominal value over time.

Of course, some teams also excel as underdogs. Take the St. Louis Blues, for example, who went 43-33 in the regular season in 2023/24 and have also won .489% of their total matches as underdogs. The Golden Knights and Bruins also fared well according to this metric and should be favored when backing underdogs as part of your NHL betting strategy.

As NHL betting advances, we are sure to see the use of AI and AI prediction tools used more and more to try and create an edge against the sportsbooks.

#6 - Rookie Player Props Hockey Betting System

When it comes to betting on player props, bettors often target the best and most seasoned NFL players. However, backing players like Zach Hyman (who contributed 16 goals, six assists, and 22 points in 2023/24) to top score in a game unlocks only nominal value. This is where overlooked rookies can offer significant value.

Last season, Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks contributed 61 points in total, including 22 goals and 39 assists. In terms of points, he outscored more seasoned players like Rasmus Dahlin. Bedard has proven to be a consistent rookie who’s more than capable of affecting games.

Connor Zary of the Calgary Flames is another rookie who performed well last season, contributing 14 goals and 34 points last season. However, he could be backed at a competitive +134 to score more than one point in a recent NHL match against the Vancouver Canucks, which can unlock a $134 payout on a stake of $100.

• Strategy 1 - Rookies aren’t as revered or widely backed as experienced and demonstrably consistent players. So, backing them in player prop markets can unlock enhanced odds.
• Strategy 2 - The key is to research the most consistent rookies, who performed well through 2023/24 and have started the new campaign well too. These players may represent superior value bets in markets such as points, goals, and assists.
• Strategy 3 - An ice hockey betting system requires significant performance analysis, while you need to evaluate the published odds and implied probability values. Also, appraise relevant team form before selecting individual player props.

#7 - 60 Minute Line Hockey Betting Guide

We’ve already touched on 60-minute betting in the NHL, which unlocks three-way moneylines. In this market, you can bet one of two competing teams to win and the tie after 60 minutes, before the decisive period of overtime.

In standard, two-way moneylines, there are only two potential outcomes. A tie will see the wager scratched and your stake returned. So, 60-minute betting is an NHL betting strategy that usually looks to leverage the value of matches that are tied after regulation time.

This system can certainly unlock value bets. NHL statistics reveal that some franchises draw a higher-than-usual percentage of matches in regulation time. These include the Rangers and the Jets, whose respective OTL values of 41 and 40 are significantly higher than the league’s average.

So, when the Rangers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, you may be inclined to back the draw after 60 minutes. Conversely, you can bet on the match to enter a period of overtime. This is an even money market that arguably unlocks superior implied probability values.

• Strategy 1 - When evaluating a franchise’s OTL value, compare this against their opponents. It’s important to contrast two competing teams’ average performances after 60 minutes. This will help you identify the best value wagers.
• Strategy 2 - Some 22.5% of NHL games go to overtime, according to the long-range averages. So, this type of strategy should be used sparingly, even when backing teams such as the Rangers.
• Strategy 3 - Ultimately, succeeding with this NHL betting strategy requires a detailed analysis of data and match results. Once again, factors such as recent form and player rotation are key.

NHL Betting Strategies - Live In-Play

No ice hockey betting guide of this type would be complete without considering in-play wagering. Certain wager types undoubtedly lend themselves to live betting, particularly team and player props.

Due to the range of live NHL betting markets, in-play wagering can unlock sustained and incremental profits. However, live odds are dynamic and liable to change significantly in-game, so we’d recommend that you watch or stream the action in real-time when betting.

Also, period betting can prove highly effective when wagering in-play. This allows you to target relevant markets with the most likely outcomes, while it’s easier to gauge the in-game momentum during shorter 20-minute periods of play.

NHL Events to Wager On

All NHL roads eventually lead to the coveted Stanley Cup final. This showpiece event features a best-of-seven encounter between the two franchises that qualify through the playoffs. This is one of numerous ways in which you can wager on the NHL. Here’s a summary of the key NFL events and milestones each season!

Other Sports Betting Guides?

If none of these betting strategies appeal to you, you may prefer to wager on an alternative sport. In this case, we still have you covered here at ReadWrite. You can check out any of the other comprehensive sports betting guides listed below!

• NFL Betting
• Horse Racing Betting
• Boxing Betting
• Baseball Betting
• Golf Betting

Conclusion

The content in this hockey betting system and strategy guide is aimed at both beginners and advanced bettors. To this end, some of the strategies detailed on this page are more suited to experienced individuals with a track record of using online sportsbooks.

Ultimately, any of these NHL betting systems can be used online. You can even combine different strategies to maximize your potential returns. We’d also recommend that you check out BetOnline, which is our preferred site for NHL betting odds and markets!

References

• NHL.com
• Hockey Seasonal Stats

FAQs