Betting the NHL Playoffs

The NHL Playoffs are Some Exciting Hockey

It’s Stanley Cup time, and we’re helping you with betting the NHL Playoffs.

Key Points

– It pays to have a strategy prior to betting on the NHL playoffs

– The vast number of markets and betting options allow bettors to take advantage of the NHL playoffs

Betting the NHL Playoffs

Bettors can once again take advantage of betting on the NHL playoffs. The entire postseason can help a bettor make his whole season.

There are tons of NHL betting options on the board. Bettors can place traditional bets on the moneyline, puck line, or game total. There are also numerous player props, team props, futures bets, and more. Handicapping the NHL Playoffs can be difficult. But we got your back.

When betting on the NHL playoffs, it helps to have a plan or some sort of strategy to get the most bang for your buck. Here are a few ideas you can use to succeed.

The Futures Market – Stanley Cup Winner

The NHL futures market – for the Stanley Cup, for example – stays open even after the playoffs have started.

Bettors can get an idea of how a team is playing in the postseason and bet accordingly. There is also the possibility of injuries that could derail a favorite’s chances at winning.

Bettors can still find great odds on favorites to win the Stanley Cup or even a conference championship. Use teams’ performances early in the playoffs to make some sound betting decisions in the NHL futures market. Hedging the futures market with both pre-game and live betting is one of the hottest sports betting trends these days.

Keep in mind that since 2009 only seven different teams have won the Cup. Chicago and Pittsburgh have won three each and the Kings and Lightning have won twice.

How are your baseball picks to start the new season? We discussed MLB futures odds our last time out.

Use Advanced Metrics When Betting the NHL Playoffs

There are a number of advanced hockey betting metrics that can help bettors in the NHL playoffs. One of the more telling metrics is Corsi percentage.

Corsi percentage measures puck possession in an opponent’s zone in even strength 5-on-5 situations. Essentially, the more you possess the puck in the opponent’s end, the more opportunities you have to score.

There was a direct correlation between Corsi percentage and winning the Stanley Cup. Over one recent ten-year period, the Stanley Cup champion was ranked in the top-10 in Corsi percentage eight times. Of those eight teams, six finished in the top-5.

When betting the NHL playoffs, especially the futures market, it’s probably wise to check out the Corsi statistics.

MUST READ > FIND THE RIGHT SPORTSBOOK FOR MAY BETTING ACTION

Game 2 Winners

Games 1 and 2 of an NHL playoff series are played at the home of the higher seed. After Game 1, there is a strategy bettors can use that typically pays off in Game 2.

Always bet the lower seed in Game 2 regardless of the results of Game 1. The lower seed is the road team and road teams are typically the underdog in Game 2. That’s the case even if they pulled off a win in Game 1.

Betting road underdogs in Game 2 of an NHL playoff series has been profitable. In a recent 120-game period, the lower seed – the road underdog – won 51 times. A deeper look into sports odds and picks can help with some trends.

Yes, that’s only 39 percent, but since you are betting at plus-money the return on investment is positive.

Be Wary of Recency Bias

Another NHL playoff strategy involves any series that is 3-1 in favor of the higher seed going into a Game 5.

In all sports, bettors tend to place too much emphasis on a team’s most recent performances. Over the past several seasons in cases where the higher seed won the first three games of a series then the lower seed won Game 4 … the lower seed won Game 5 seven of 11 times.

It’s the same in cases where the lower seed wins Game 1 and the higher seed wins the next three. Bettors place too much emphasis on the three wins. Betting the lower seed in this case over the past several years has produced a return on investment of 87.1 percent.

Use these strategies wisely and enjoy betting on the NHL playoffs!