NHL Betting can be an exhilarating experience, and proper research and strategy can lead to some profitable bets. But hockey’s unpredictable nature can take time to accurately predict team performances in matchups.
Therefore, it’s often best to avoid parlays involving money-line favorites in this sport and focus on finding matchups where odds do not accurately reflect overall circumstances.
Divisional History
This season’s NHL schedule features 10 division rivalry games compared to five in previous years. This was done to increase excitement and competition while cutting costs associated with travel for Canadian teams.
While many of the NHL’s classic rivalries may have faded into irrelevancy, fierce competitions remain to enjoy. For example, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers battle each other fiercely as part of “the Battle of Pennsylvania,” while New York Rangers maintain an ongoing feud with New Jersey Devils.
Rivalries like these can fuel intense fights on the ice and generate excitement among fans, not to mention tension among players and coaches competing for division supremacy. NHL executive Colin Campbell once famously noted that hate sells itself; few times does this more evident than when old division rivalries meet in the Stanley Cup playoff series.
Divisional Strength
The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of North America’s most-watched sporting leagues, and it’s easy to understand why: its exciting action and intense rivalries draw millions every season, not to mention some of the greatest athletes from around the globe competing.
Multiple methods are available for betting on NHL games, from moneyline wagers and total bets (which involve wagering on the number of goals scored during a matchup) to straight money line and real bets available through most sportsbooks.
Parlay bets are also an increasingly popular way to increase winnings. A parlay bet combines multiple straight bets on different games into one ticket, giving you greater odds for each match and increasing winnings overall.
Prop bets on NHL player performances are also increasingly popular, involving betting on whether an individual player will score more or less than what is set out by their sportsbook’s line. Such bets may depend on factors like performance against division rivals or other considerations influencing game outcomes.
NHL picks can be particularly intriguing in divisional rivalries, where the stakes are higher, and the emotions run deep. Taking into account the historical matchups, team dynamics, and the intensity of divisional games can provide valuable insights for making successful NHL picks in these heated contests.
Divisional Fatigue
NHL betting provides a range of exciting markets to each game, including player props (where you bet on individual player performances), correct score bets, and handicap bets.
Rivalries create memories that fans will treasure for life and provide economic boosts to teams and their cities by increasing ticket sales and business opportunities.
But with a league schedule that forces similar matchups, again and again, those moments may become scarcer than they should be. This has contributed to wavering passions and dull rivalries – particularly within divisional matches – an issue for all involved with NHL rivalries. The NHL should abide by its “keep it simple” mantra when scheduling to allow great rivalries to flourish without suffering divisional fatigue.
Divisional Intensity
Hockey rivalries draw passionate supporters who relish betting excitement. Beyond traditional moneyline and over/under bets, ice hockey fans can place total points bets, player individual goal bets, correct score bets, and handicap bets for maximum wagering excitement!
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens share one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in NHL history, dating back to its earliest decades when both teams were among its founding six teams.
When the NHL revamped its Stanley Cup playoff format in 2013, they insisted on increased divisional matchups. Unfortunately, the divisional play has turned more into a punishment than an opportunity; for example, if Montreal Canadiens finished first in their division, they may face higher-seeded teams in round two, making their path toward reaching the Stanley Cup Final much more challenging than expected.
