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You can compare NHL betting odds for all upcoming games, and futures markets, right here at TheGruelingTruth. In this article, you can also check out the best operators.
As well as that, we’ll also look at the various NHL markets for which betting odds are available, and look at why it is important to shop around to find the best value for your hockey bets.
Before looking at the specifics, such as the NHL playoffs betting odds, let’s start off by introducing the five best sports gambling sites. As well as offering the best overall value for your hockey bets, these are also top-quality licensed operators for Canadian bettors:
Rank | Sportsbook | NHL betting features | Min deposit/withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Bet365 | Best overall NHL odds value Multi-sport parlays |
$10/$20 |
#2 | BetMGM | NHL specials Official NHL partner |
$10/$20 |
#3 | Pointsbet | Pick your own odds for puck line and totals Lowest deposit and withdrawal limits |
$5/$5 |
#4 | BetRivers.com | NHL player props Stats and tops |
$10/$20 |
#5 | Betway | Selection of NHL markets Implied probability graphs for NHL games |
$10/$10 |
Above, you can find the most essential information about the five best sportsbooks in Canada for NHL betting odds. Below, you can check out what each site has to offer hockey fans in a little bit more detail. If you want more information, you can also check out our full review of each betting site here at TheGruelingTruth.
Bet365 is an international betting brand that now has an iGO license, meaning that the platform accepts Ontario-based customers aged 19+. It is known for always offering excellent value odds across the board, and that extends to all NHL markets as well.
If you compare the NHL odds at Bet365 to any other sportsbook on this list, or elsewhere in Canada, you will find that, more often than not, they are the same or better. On top of that, you can also combine your NHL bets with other sports, using the Bet365 multi-sport parlay bet builder.
BetMGM is the only sportsbook on this list that is actually an official partner of the NHL. On its Ontario-licensed platform, you will find an excellent selection of betting odds for every NHL game. Moreover, you can view the puck line, total and moneyline for each period individually at the click of a button, as well as the whole game.
Where BetMGM really comes to life is with its NHL futures odds. As well as outrights for the playoffs and the Stanley Cup, you also have some alternative markets. For instance, you can wager on what conference the Stanley Cup winner will come from, or if we will see a first-time champion this season.
Pointsbet is an official partner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and as a result, is very proactive in promoting its NHL odds and markets. As well as the usual betting lines, props and futures for the NHL, you also have some customizable betting options as well.
For example, on some games, Pointsbet will allow you to pick your own puck line and/or totals line. If you don’t like the looks of the spread or the points total on the main betting line, you can select your own and Pointsbet will give you the odds for it.
BetRivers.com is an extremely user-friendly platform that is packed with features to help you out. For example, on the main NHL betting odds line for each game, there are two buttons – “Stats” and “Tips”.
If you click on the “Stats” button, a window will pop up with details and infographics showing you where the game is played, what time it starts and a whole host of H2H stats between the two teams. The “Tips” button will display facts relating to certain odds and markets, such as how many times the Maple Leafs have beaten the puck line in their last 10 games.
Much like Bet365, Betway is also an international betting site with thousands of sporting events, leagues and competitions that you can wager on each day. However, the Ontario platform is very NHL and hockey-focused in general.
On this platform, you can find a massive selection of markets, from outrights to player props, futures and more. If you are a dedicated hockey fan who likes to look beyond the NHL, Betway also offers odds on just about every pro ice hockey league in the world, including Russia, Finland and Switzerland. Although it is an overseas-based site, Betway is still among the best Interac e-transfer betting sites for Canada players.
The most commonly used odds format in Canada for NHL and other sports is decimal, but there are some sportsbooks, such as BetRivers.com, that use American odds instead. Here is an example of how your average NHL betting line looks using decimal odds:
Puck Line | Total | Moneyline | |
---|---|---|---|
Canadiens | +1.5 2.15 |
O 6 1.91 |
3.40 |
Maple Leafs | -1.5 1.72 |
U 6 1.91 |
1.33 |
There are three markets displayed in this example:
1. Moneyline – This is the basic betting line for the outright winner of the game. You can see that the Maple Leafs are clear favourites here, as they are being offered at much shorter odds of 1.33, while the Canadiens are underdogs at long odds of 3.40.
2. Puck Line – This is the equivalent of the points spread in most other sports, and the contest has been evened up by giving the Maple Leafs a 1.5-point handicap. On the other hand, the Canadiens have a 1.5 point advantage as underdogs.
3. Totals – Rather than showing who will win or lose, this market gives you a total points total line of 6, and you can be on the game finishing with either over or under six goals being scored by both teams combined.
The bookie will first of all set the odds based on the implied probability of each outcome. They then add a small amount to that on each site to ensure their profits, known as the “vig”. In the lead-up to the game, the odds will change based on each team’s preparation and other factors.
Additionally, sportsbooks will alter the odds based on how much money they are taking on both outcomes. The puck line in the example above would have started at 1.91 odds for both sides. However, in this case, the sportsbook has probably seen a lot more money come in on the Maple Leafs, so has shortened the odds on that side and juiced the Canadiens (+1.5) to encourage bets on the opposite outcome.
The playoffs open up extra betting opportunities, particularly as the NHL playoff betting odds start earlier with futures betting markets. At the start of the season, you can already bet on which teams will make the playoffs or which conference will come out on top.
As is the case with the playoffs, Stanley Cup odds are already made available at the start of each season with futures markets. You can wager on a team to win outright, or you can broaden your selection by picking the conference, division or country of the winning team.
Above all else, the most important thing when betting on the NHL is to find the best possible value for your odds. And the best way to do that is to shop around for the best available value every time. That’s why we recommend that more experienced bettors register with more than one of our recommended sportsbooks. You can now check out our full reviews to find the best NHL betting sites in Ontario for you today.
You can find the best betting odds for the NHL here at TheGruelingTruth.com. Consistently, the best Ontario sportsbooks for NHL odds at Bet365, BetMGM and Pointsbet.
+1.5 is an example of what is known as the “puck line” in hockey, which is the same as the points spread. In an uneven game, the favourite might be given a -.15 handicap, while the underdog is given a +1.5 advantage.
The odds show you two things – a team’s probability of winning and how much you stand to win if you back a team. For example, if the Maple Leafs are 2.0 to beat the Canadiens, and you bet $100, your total payout would be: $100 x 2.0 = $200.
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