Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best Ice Hockey odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual races, we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sport bet, in this case, Ice Hockey betting, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What is Ice Hockey?
Ice hockey is a fast-paced sport that has millions of followers throughout the globe. The game’s objective involves hitting a small puck and gliding across the ice before passing it into a goal using a hockey stick. Each time the puck goes into the goal, the corresponding team is awarded one point. The players pass the puck around on the ice, and it is the opposing team’s job to keep the other team from scoring points. The team that has scored the most goals at the end of the game is declared the victor. If the game ends in a draw, it continues to go to overtime; whichever team scores first during that extra round wins.
The sport takes place on a 61-by-30 metre ice rink, split into three sections. The middle section is the neutral zone which includes a central circle where the games begin. Both sides opposite the neutral zone are the defending and attacking zones, determined by whichever team has the puck at the time. Both the defending and attacking zones consist of two end zone faceoff spots.
Each player has a hockey stick and ice skates. Their uniform also consists of a series of safety padding, including a helmet, a face mask, shoulder pads, padded shorts, gloves, and arm guards. Each goaltender has the same equipment but on a denser scale since they are in the firing line of the puck more often.
Each team comprises up to 20 players, of which six must be on the ice at any time, with the rest acting as substitutes.
The History of Ice Hockey
Historical evidence over the years shows that games quite similar to hockey, using a ball and a stick and progressing towards a set goal or target, have been around somewhere in the world since the Medieval period. A particular game of Dutch origin, known as “kolven” (along with field hockey varieties), might be a possible point of origin for today’s ice hockey.
The first recorded evidence of the term hockey came in 1363. That was when King Edward III of England mentioned it on a list of games prohibited in the kingdom. The word may also have been sourced from the French term “hoquet”, which translates to “shepherd’s stick”.
But what evolved into the present-day game we know today was believed to be introduced by the Mi’kmaq natives of Nova Scotia during the mid-1800s. Their version of the game – which used a stick and a square-shaped wooden block– seemed to have drawn inspiration from the Irish game of hurling, where it derived the terminology of the stick, then dubbed “hurley”. The most commonly believed theories trace the sport’s origins across Canada through European emigrants and the British Army.
James Creighton is famously known as the modern founder of organised hockey. The International Ice Hockey Federation has stated that the first hockey game was played in Montreal, Canada, in 1875 between two teams of students from McGill University.
In 1877, the first set of rules of hockey made it to the Montreal Gazette, and in 1917, the National Hockey League was founded. McGill University was recorded as the first winner of the Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament against the Quebec Hockey Club and the Montreal Victorias in 1883.
How do I bet on Ice Hockey?
The betting markets offered at NetBet include the Money Line, Goals Handicap, and Total Points. Below are the most popular betting markets for betting on ice hockey:
Money Line
Money line is one of the most straightforward bets you can place on a match. Bettors can choose between three different game outcomes: either team A wins, or team B or the match ends in a draw.
There is no requirement to make point spreads calculations; you can pick who you believe will win or whether there will be a draw.
Goals Handicap
Goals handicap betting is typically offered when one team is favoured more against the other. The sportsbook then offers a handicap on the number of goals in the winning margin to balance the scales.
For instance, if a team has a handicap of -1, placing a bet on them will only be profitable if they win by more than one goal. Placing a bet on the opposing team at +1 will only be successful if that team wins or the game ends in a draw.
Total Points
Ice hockey is determined by goals or points like other team sports such as football and handball. You can bet on whether the total amount of points scored in a game will be below or above a specific number suggested by the sportsbook, e.g., 4.5.
Total Points (Overtime)
Since there is always the possibility of overtime in ice hockey, there is also a total points market for overtime betting. In such a case, you may receive less favourable odds for the same 4.5 bet. That being said, you would still win in regulation time and overtime (should a game come to that point).
Draw No Bet
The draw no bet is very similar to the money line bet, but with only one defining difference. If a game you are betting on ends in a draw, your stake will be returned to you, making this a safer bet than the money line. Remember that the odds for this are usually lower than those given in a money line bet.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality sports betting markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
