There are many Brits out there who are unaware that ice hockey has been played in the UK since the start of the 20th century, with the first game being the English Army veterans against Canada. As a nation, we were actually pretty good at it and had plenty of success in the 1920s and 1930s. We won bronze at the Olympics in 1924, and gold in the 1936 Olympics. They also picked up medals in the 1935, 1937, and 1938 World Championships. However, since the end of World War II, we have struggled which is why it lost its popularity. However, thanks to the Elite Ice Hockey League, it is gaining popularity again. Below we shall provide you with some great ice hockey betting tips.
Keep Tabs on the Elite Ice Hockey League
There is no doubt that the Elite Ice Hockey League is now one of the most popular ice hockey leagues in Europe, and it is vital when you are deciding on a betting strategy for it (or any league for that matter), that you are familiar with its schedule. Ice hockey is a demanding sport, so you will want to always be aware of the matches that are due to be played. You will also want to find out the teams that need to travel long distances or those that are playing a number of games in a short time span. Due to the hectic schedule, teams and players will have their ups and downs when it comes to form. Usually they will keep their best performances for when they are playing their rivals.
Bet on Goals, Goals, and More Goals
The goal markets for ice hockey are varied and dynamic and can provide the savvy ice hockey betting fan with a lot of opportunities. If you sign up with a top-quality sports betting site, then you will be able to take advantage of a variety of different goal markets such as both teams to score, total goals, and correct score.
Total goals is a great market to begin with because there is not a lot of risk involved. The number of goals that are scored and conceded in ice hockey leagues is pretty consistent and with the right amount of homework with regards to overall goals scored and current form, you will be able to locate some good bets for this market. Shut outs are pretty rare in this sport, so that both teams to score market is one you can win quite often. However, the odds provided will reflect the fact that clean sheets are not common. On the other hand, it is pretty tricky to guess the correct score of the match, so if you manage to do so, you will be rewarded quite handsomely for it.
So, how is it that you can find a top-quality bookie to bet on sports such as ice hockey? Well, there are plenty of comparisons sites out there, and one of the best that we know of is https://www.mybettingsite.uk/. Their experts analyse all the important aspects of some of the best sportsbooks out there for British sports betting fans and provide their readers with in-depth reviews. By taking the time to read their reviews, you will be able to find the best online bookmaker for you, ensuring that you have a great ice hockey betting experience.
Know Your Keepers
We are not exaggerating when we say that the goalkeeper is one of the most important players in ice hockey. Whereas most teams have plenty of good outfield substitute players that can be called upon should a first-team player get injured, it is not often that they have two keepers of the same caliber. Therefore, if a team has to field its second or third keeper due to injuries or suspension, there can be a big drop in the team’s performance. Therefore, studying the strengths and weaknesses of every keeper in a league and keeping up to date with starting line-ups will definitely pay off.
Value is Important
The key to being a successful sports bettor is being able to find value. If you have the ability to regularly find bets where the odds being offered are larger than they really should be, then there is a lot of profit in it for you. However, finding value is not as easy as it might sound, and it requires a lot of analysis as well as the ability to quickly react when you come across high value odds. The great news is that you cannot only find value in the result market. As a matter of fact, it might even be easier to locate value in other markets such as the correct score, over/under, or handicap markets. Whatever market you decide to bet on, a good way to find value is to make up your own odds based on what you believe the probability of an event happening will be.
For example, let us say that the Cardiff Devils are taking on the Sheffield Steelers in the Elite Ice Hockey League and you think that the Steelers have a 40% chance of winning the match, which equates to decimal odds of 2.50. If the odds that your bookie gives for a Steelers win are higher than what you estimate, then you could have found yourself a value bet. Coming up with your own odds is something that will take time and practice, but it is a great way to get into the habit turning analysis into odds to find value.
