As the NHL is one of the four major North American sports, it is one of the bigger sports when it comes to online sports betting.  NHL fans and sports bettors alike enjoy putting a little something down on the game just to make things that much more interesting.  Though, if you’re new to the sports betting world, taking that first step can seem a bit daunting.  Never fear, though, as I am here to guide you through the basics of placing an NHL bet.

To start things off, let’s go over the most popular types of NHL bets you can place:

Moneyline

This is the easiest type of NHL bet to place, which is why it’s so popular.  You’re simply putting down a wager on who you think will win the game.  The odds will always look something like this:

• Philadelphia Flyers: +165
• Chicago Blackhawks: -200

In this example, the Flyers are the underdogs and the Blackhawks are the favorites.

If you put down a wager of $100 on the underdogs to win and they do, you’ll get your initial $100 wager back plus a $165 profit.  If you want to put down a wager on the favorites to win, you must put down at least $200 to get a return of $100.

Puck Line

This is the most common type of online NHL bet.  It is exactly the same as spread betting or run line betting in other sports such as the NFL or MLB.  It’s a wager that includes an adjusted moneyline and takes underdog/favorite status into consideration.  In fact, the Puck Line ’spots’ the underdog a goal or two in order to even out the playing field.  For example, let’s say you’re looking at the following odds:

• Philadelphia Flyers: +1 ½ -175
• Chicago Blackhawks: -1 ½ +155

In this example, the Flyers are the underdogs, so the online sportsbook has spotted them 1 ½ goals.  This means that if you put your money on them and they lose by less than two goals, you’ll win the bet.  On the other hand, if you put your money on the Blackhawks, they must win by more than two goals in order for you to win the bet.

Props

Short for proposition bets, these types of bets are the most popular among casual bettors because they’re less serious.  In fact, they can often be downright silly.  Nevertheless, they can add an extra element of excitement to the games and are usually a bit of fun.  Here are some examples of Stanley Cup prop bets.

Will either team score in the first 10 minutes?
Yes: -115
No: -115

First team to score?
Flyers: -115
Blackhawks: -115

Will the game go into OT?
Yes: +300
No: -400

Total goals scored in the game will be
Even: -115
Odd: -115

Of course, there are other types of bets that you can place such as futures, parlays and teasers, and cross sport props to name a few.  The three mentioned above are the three most popular and many bettors are happy to stick to one or more of these.  However, once you’re more familiar with NHL bets, feel free to branch out.

So, with a better understanding of the different types of bets, how do you actually go about putting down a bet at an online sportsbook?  It’s easy and can be summed up in a few simple steps.

1. Find a trustworthy online sportsbook.  This can be a bit tricky as there are hundreds of online sportsbooks out there to choose from.  All of them claim to have the best odds and the best service, but how do you really know?  Luckily I’m here to help!  Check out my favorite online sportsbook: BetUS.  For starters, it offers all of the latest odds.  Not just on the NHL, but other major sports as well, including NBA, NFL, MLB, Olympics, tennis, soccer, boxing, golf … the list goes on.  And since they’ve been online since 1994, you can be sure that they know a thing or two about reliability and excellent customer service.
2. Once you’ve found a reliable online sportsbook that meets all of your criteria and offers NHL betting odds, simply sign up a new account.  The benefit of joining an online sportsbook is that many of them will offer a sign up bonus to help you get on your way.  BetUS offers all new punters up to a 50% matchup on the first deposit and further bonuses and rebates with each future deposit.
3. With a new account at a reliable online sportsbook, you’re ready to get started betting.  Simply visit the NHL section and find the game you want to bet on.  Then simply check the boxes next to the bets you want to place and submit your bets.  It’s that easy.  The sportsbook will notify you of the outcome of your wagering.