Hockey is one of the most exciting sports to bet on thanks to its lightning speed and almost continuous play. However, if you are new to ice hockey betting, you probably have to go through a steep course of training before your bets are successful. To limit your losses, here are the most common betting mistakes to avoid.
1. Always pick a favorite on the puck line
Puck line betting is like scattering in basketball or football, where the favorite must win with a certain amount – almost always -1.5 goals in hockey.
Puck betting is especially attractive to novice ice hockey bettors because of the big odds that usually come with them, but don’t make the mistake of always picking a favorite of the match.
2. Focus on shots on goal
Examining the difference between a team’s recent hits is a popular way to gauge a team’s performance, but it can also be misleading.
Teams with lower qualifications often shoot as many times as possible to increase their chances of scoring, while teams with higher qualifications retain their shot attempts for clear scoring opportunities.
3. Assuming that victory is indisputable.
There is nothing guaranteed in sports betting, and this is especially true of ice hockey.
During the season, 20-25% of NHL games usually end with extra time or shootouts, and many other games end with 1-goal decisions.
One incident can be enough to turn over strong favorites, as is the case with online blackjack in Canada, so don’t assume the game is a castle.
4. Ignoring which goalkeeper is playing
The goalkeeper is the most important member of every team, so knowing who is watching the net on game night is critical, as even the best goaltenders in the NHL get 10-15 games over a long season.
If you find out that there will be a reserve in the network, be sure to check its percentage of saves and performance compared to the average value.
5. Too Much Focus on the Benefits of Home
As with any other sport, NHL teams have an advantage at home, but it is not as significant as it used to be.
Home teams still win +/- 55% of their games in the NHL, but they don’t win as often as home teams in the NBA or NFL.
6. Overreacting to injury to players.
An injury to a leading player often leads to a drop in odds as players overreact, usually to the point where the value lies in the team missing out on their star player. It’s important to remember, however, that injuries in ice hockey are arguably less significant than in the NBA or NFL, as even the best players usually don’t play more than one third of a game.