Ice hockey betting odds at LeoVegas

LeoVegas has such a range of sports betting options that it'd be much quicker to go through sports we don't offer a market for. Ice hockey betting is definitely a popular option for fans of intense action. Find out more about the ice hockey odds and betting opportunities below!

Ice hockey in a nutshell

Ice hockey consists of three separate 20-minute periods. It involves an ice rink, two small goals, and a puck. Each team will consist of approximately 20 hockey players who get ready for the action on the ice, typically this includes two goalies, six defensive players, and 12 forwards. The aim is to have all the players on the rink at some point. The rotating nature of the game means that most players will get the opportunity to take to the ice.

Each goal counts as one point, and if the game is tied once the 60 minutes of action is complete, the game will go to a shootout; if it's part of a regular season game, that is. The goaltender is the only player on the ice who can use their feet. If any other player accidentally catches the puck, they must immediately release it back into play or face a penalty.

Ice hockey is known as a frantic and fast-paced game where players crash into each other with immense force, and it is renowned for players coming to blows on the rink. One hockey video game even had fighting as part of the game; that is how synonymous it is with the sport. Unfortunately, there are no ice hockey betting markets for the winner of any fights during the game, but there's still a lot to choose from at LeoVegas. Today, we'll be giving you a full rundown of the sort of ice hockey odds you can find.

Bet on ice hockey online

Online betting has transformed how millions of people partake in NHL betting. It's not just NHL betting odds that we'll be discussing today, but as it is by far the most popular ice hockey league, bringing in vast numbers of viewers in North America, it also brings a swelling gambling market.

Wherever there is a vast scope for a market, or the popularity is driving the expansion, betting companies will spend more time and resources developing markets tailored for NHL and ice hockey fans. This has happened right across the gambling industry over the last couple of years, given the considerable changes in legislation we have witnessed regarding digital sports gambling since a landmark ruling in 2018.

Ice hockey betting markets now cater to fans who like to gamble on their PC/laptop and those who like to gamble on their mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones. This expansion has resulted in impressive growth in the digital gambling sector. Although ice hockey betting hasn't quite reached the same levels as the NFL or NBA, it is one market set to grow exponentially due to the several variables we've skimmed through.

Ice hockey betting markets

These are some of the top ice hockey betting markets you can find here at LeoVegas. Some of the markets are general, and you may recognize them from other sports betting markets, while some of them, such as puck line bets, are specifically tailored to fans looking to bet on ice hockey.

Puckline

A puckline bet is also a spread bet in other sports gambling markets. However, ice hockey betting uses this unique terminology to differentiate this specific area of the game. A puckline means the favourite is -1.5 goals, with the underdog at +1.5 on the spread. It is essentially a handicap bet, which means the favourite doesn't just have to win, but they also need to win by two or more points. This works in the opposite direction, too; betting on the underdog at +1.5 gives you flexibility as the underdog can lose by one goal, but your bet will still payout because of the leeway afforded you as part of the puck line bet.

Over Under

Over under is a more conventional style of betting, and it's a simple case of betting on whether the team will score over or under a certain number of points. Of course, given the quality of the opposition, this is a market that fluctuates. NHL betting odds vary at the best of times, but especially on over-under markets, and even more so when in play. You will see just how volatile these markets can get.

Correct score

Again, another popular form of ice hockey betting that is relatively self-explanatory. A correct score bet means selecting the exact number of goals that both teams will score. This can be a difficult market to predict in any sport, but given that fewer goals/points are scored than there are in games such as basketball or American football, this is a market that some ice hockey fans earmark as having potential value if they know what to look for.

Player points

One player's individual performance can often dictate a game's outcome, especially if you look at some of the top players currently operating at the highest level of the NHL. NHL odds are basically identical to other ice hockey markets; however, given the stature of some of the players within the NHL, and the coverage it gets, this is one individual market that sees a lot of action. Player points are a popular market when you think one player will put in an explosive game-winning performance.

Period 1/2/3

Ice hockey is unique in that it is split into thirds. Many other sports fall into more conventional brackets of two halves or four quarters, but ice hockey is different in that regard. A Period 1/2/3 bet is a combination of bets you can make about the individual outcome of each period. For instance, if the Edmonton Oilers are playing the Las Vegas Knights, and you think the Oilers will steamroll them, then you could place a bet on them winning each of the three periods, which will give you much better odds. If you think the Knights could win a close game, you could maybe go for an Oilers/Knights/Knights bet, which would again have further, better odds. However, this market is challenging to navigate, even for die-hard fans of the sport, as anything can happen during a big NHL game to swing the tide, but this can also open up possibilities to find value in NHL betting odds.

In-play betting and pre-match betting

In-play betting occurs during the course of the game. As we have already alluded to, these markets can switch around very quickly and become volatile depending on the speed of the game. While ice hockey might not see the points or goals rack up as quickly as in some other sports, the in-play ice hockey odds constantly move during the game. Some pre-match bets overlap with in-play betting. For instance, if you're looking at placing a bet on a team to win a specific period of the game, you can place your bet on a team to win the second period or the last period while the first period is still underway. Pre-match betting also covers different markets, such as who will win the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.

Ice hockey betting odds

You can select different formats for your odds; fractional odds are often the most common that people choose. For instance, if your bet is 2/1, a €10 bet will net you a win of €20. You can also find markets that will give you your price in decimal odds.

Ice hockey betting leagues

It's not just NHL betting odds that fuel the overall ice hockey betting market. Although the NHL takes up a sizable portion, and you'll find some of the best players in the NHL, there are other rising leagues in Europe that you can bet on.

Bet on NHL

With 30 teams comprising the NHL spread across North America and Canada, some of the teams are located thousands of kilometres away from each other, so the league is segmented into groups of teams that play each other in specific leagues, with the best teams in each heading on toward the playoffs and The Stanley Cup.

There are 15 teams in the Western Conference and 15 in the Eastern Conference, split into two divisions within each conference. It is a long season of 82 games, which usually begins in October and lasts for six months. So, as you can, there are more than enough NHL betting markets to explore. Each team gets two points for winning a game; as we discussed earlier, there are no ties in the NHL, and games will go to a shootout if they're still tied at the end of the allotted time.

The top teams from each division, including several wild cards, form a knockout competition of 16 teams; each game has seven games within it, with the team that finished higher in the league obtaining home advantage. Over the seven games, the higher-ranked team will play four at home, with the other three at the opposition’s stadium. Ice hockey odds that you can browse through at LeoVegas cover hundreds of different eventualities that occur out on the ice during both the regular season and the playoffs.

Bet on SHL

The Swedish Hockey League also takes place over six months, similar to the NHL, but it is earlier in the calendar, between September and March. Although the SHL doesn't see the same numbers as the NHL, nor is the league as vast, it is by far the biggest league in Europe and enjoys sizable crowds in Sweden. The league itself consists of 14 teams, consisting of 52 games where teams play each other twice at home and twice away from home. The NHL betting odds we have discussed today are all the same markets you can find for the SHL too. The playoffs follow the same format but include eight teams.

Bet on SM-liiga (Finnish Elite League)

Although the Swedish league is by far the most popular in Europe, the Finnish league also attracts a solid number of fans. Ice hockey is a climate-driven sport, so countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Canada make the most of the cold weather by playing and watching winter sports like ice hockey.

There are 60 games in total, with the six top teams out of 15 progressing to the playoff stages of the season. Like hockey in Sweden and the NHL, there is no tie, and games go to a shootout in the event of a draw. Finland and Sweden have rich ice hockey traditions, with some of their top talents ending up in the NHL. The Finnish Elite League has the same ice hockey betting markets as the other two leagues we discussed.

There are dozens of other ice hockey leagues and competitions available to bet on LeoVegas, including the IIHF World Championship.

Explore the ice hockey betting odds at LeoVegas

Whether you're looking to place your ice hockey bet online or on your phone, LeoVegas has ensured that all ice hockey betting markets are easy to find and navigate. Despite the fact there are so many markets to choose from, LeoVegas has designed the aesthetic of the page so you can quickly browse and find the ice hockey odds you're looking for.