Even though in some European countries hockey cannot compete in popularity with other sports, such as football and tennis, there are plenty of people who want to predict the outcome of battles.
Hockey betting pros and cons
Hockey games are sensational. A large number of comebacks clearly distinguishes it from other disciplines. Although this particularity seems to be a reason not to favour hockey for many bettors, professional players can take this opportunity and earn on high odds with a clever approach.
Hockey teams meet every two to three days. Such frequency of fights allows you to track the shape of athletes, their mental condition, and changes in team composition. A large number of hockey matches helps to perform a high-quality statistical analysis.
The main disadvantage of hockey betting is the scant amount of broadcasts. Typically, games are broadcast at the local level, and therefore only a few can watch them in real-time.
The unjustifiably low hockey rating within bookmakers also affects the limits of the maximum bet amount. Besides this, the odds for the outcomes of hockey games incorporate a solid margin.
Most popular types of bets
As in other sports, there are three main outcomes in hockey: the first team wins, the second wins, or it is a draw. Such options are notable for a minimum margin and higher betting limits.
Other outcomes in the line allow bettors to stay on the safe side and increase their chances of winning. They appear in the line like “1X” (the first team wins or it is a draw), “X2” (the second team wins or it is a draw) and 12 (one of the teams wins).
Handicap bets are also popular among bettors. While choosing a handicap for one of the teams, you should pay attention to its numerical value: whether it is offered as a fraction or an integer. It determines the possibility of a refund for the bet. Some bookmakers allow you to buy more handicaps. Buying a half puck reduces the odds by 40%, but allows the bettor to play it safe.
There is also a zero handicap. Players who bet on this outcome can expect to be refunded in case of a draw in regular time.
As in any other discipline, bookmakers visitors can bet on total – the total number of pucks in the net. Bettors choosing this option should guess whether the teams will score the number of goals indicated in the total or not.
In addition to the common main outcomes, there are also other offers in bookmakers’ range. The options can be very diverse: one can guess which team will score first, the individual total of each team, the leading players. One can also bet on the number of penalties, the time of the first goal, and much more.
Pre-match analysis 101
The success of a player’s bet largely depends on pre-match analysis. It should be borne in mind that each team plays 2-3 matches a week, there are no more than 24 major players, and it matters in hockey whether it is a home match or an away one.
It is worth considering the last four to five matches to determine the current shape of the opponents. At the same time, one should not forget to check the statistics of home and away matches.
The history of head-to-head contests is very important in hockey. Sometimes this particular measure should be the key one when choosing a wager.
Position in the standings and teams motivation are basic components of successful analysis and a winning bet. The final matches often end with an unpredictable result due to over-motivation, and the number of the club’s titles does not always make a difference.
One must also consult a list of disqualified and injured players! Considering the pace of the tournaments, by the middle of the season hockey players are already pretty tired, so even a minor injury to a reserve player can influence the result of the confrontation.
Every experienced bettor has his own approach to analysis, and beginners learn only by practice. To avoid undesirable blunders, one can take advantage of expert forecasts published on reputable resources such as bookmaker-ratings.com.
