Bet on the NHL in Canada - Hockey odds BET.CA

How does NHL betting work?

NHL betting is the best way to make the coldest game on earth as exciting as possible. There’s something for everyone when it comes to hockey betting.

A total of 32 teams – including seven flying the flag for Canada – battle it out for supremacy. The NHL is also loaded with superstar players to wager on, including household names like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

A typical NHL season has over 1,200 regular season games, followed by four rounds of NHL playoffs ending with the Stanley Cup, meaning there are endless opportunities to engage in hockey betting. There are several different ways to wager on the action as well, depending on your preference.

Finding the best sportsbook can be daunting, but BET.CA has no problem doing the leg work. Luckily, the number of options is plentiful. Be sure to check out the best NHL odds and betting lines.

Hockey_NHL_Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews — © John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The best NHL sportsbooks

What odds can you get on the NHL?

An online sportsbook with NHL betting will typically offer several different ways to bet, including the moneyline, puck line, totals or over/under, and point spreads.

Hockey betting can even become more specific within those individual categories, for those who are looking for a challenge. Every sportsbook has slightly different odds, but it’s always worth finding the absolute best available. BET.CA can help you do that here.

Placing same-day bets on NHL games is a popular way to get into hockey betting, but some prefer to play the long game. The way to do that is by placing a futures bet. This involves wagering on the likelihood of an upcoming event. For example, betting on the winner of the Stanley Cup, or an award at season’s end such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) or Rookie of the Year (ROY). The profit potential on futures can be lucrative, if you have the patience to stick it out.

Some NHL bets don’t have anything to do with the actual game at all. For example, someone could place a prop bet on who will touch the Stanley Cup first. When it comes to hockey betting, the possibilities are truly endless. Check out all the statistics, betting guides, and tips you need to become a more confident hockey bettor.

NHL betting tips

Starting goalies

Knowing the starting goalies for a game is vital intel for your NHL bets. While a team's primary goalie will play most games, backup goalies often play once or twice a week, which can potentially have a big impact on the result. Beating other bettors at getting hold of this information can help you find value in the odds.

Stats

There are many NHL stats for both a team and player that can inform your bets.

Make sure to keep track of head-to-head records between teams, winning or losing streaks, how teams perform across both home games and fixtures on the road, and empty netters to inform your over/under bets.

Injuries

Who are the scratches for tonight's game? As always, injuries, or avoiding injuries, can make or break a season.

Knowing who’s fit, healthy, and in the starting line-up greatly increases your chances of making informed bets.

Standings and form

Yes, the Lightning might be higher in the standings than the Maple Leafs, but does that give you the whole picture? The Leafs might be on a win streak, while Tampa have lost their last two – are we on course for an upset? It’s important to take both into account by checking NHL standings and form before choosing your bets.

Trades

The NHL trade tracker is your friend. Who’s acquiring who and what did they give up to get their man?

Trades can completely change a team’s fortunes, for good and for bad.

Compare the odds

Comparing odds from across a range of sportsbooks is your best chance of finding the best bet.

BET.CA compares the best odds across Canada’s best sportsbooks so that you can always find the best value NHL bets.

NHL games today

The best part about hockey betting is how frequently it’s available. There are several games on every single night, as well as during the day on weekends.

One of the most popular NHL betting days is Saturday, as hockey begins in the early afternoon and continues all the way until the early hours of Sunday morning. Almost all 32 teams play, rolling out a roster of 18 players each game, any of which can be bet upon.

Life’s busy and keeping up with who is playing where can seem impossible at times. Every team plays 82 games per season, and that doesn’t include the playoffs.

You can view the entire NHL calendar including past results, upcoming matchups, and more.

The fun doesn’t stop once the game starts. Do you foresee an epic comeback? Try your hand at live betting by checking NHL live odds here.

Hockey_NHL_Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander — © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

NHL key information

📅 Year founded:	1917
🔢 Number of teams:	32
🏆 Most championships:	Montreal Canadiens (25)
🥇 Current champions:	Colorado Avalanche
🏒 Championship series:	Stanley Cup
👑 Current MVP:	Auston Matthews

NHL betting FAQs

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BET.CA's hockey guides are brought to you by our expert fans, who have been watching and writing about the NHL for years. Now they're using their passion for the sport to help you get even more enjoyment from your NHL betting.

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Betting 101

Betting odds explained

What do betting odds actually mean and what is the difference between American, decimal, and fractional odds? These questions and more are covered in our guide.

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Betting 101

What are point spreads?

The point spread is a fun market that allows you to bet on the margin a game will be won or lost by. Find out about point spreads, and why they’re popular in high-scoring sports.

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Betting in Canada

Canadian sports betting

Check the latest on which provinces in Canada offer online sports betting and single-game betting products, so that you know what’s available where you are.

Find out more

Betting strategies

What is arbing?

Arbitrage betting lets you take advantage of the difference between two sportsbooks’ odds for the same market. Read our guide to become an arbing expert.