Canadian Hockey: Latest News and Betting Advice

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2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions and Betting Odds

Is it a secret that Canadians are crazy about hockey? Not really. Do they like to bet on the outcome of games and put their money where they claim their sports knowledge is? Probably. But what about the rest of the world? You hardly have to be Canadian, or even North American, to place a bet or two on an exciting game of NHL. Hockey is a fascinating sport that combines elements from so many others. It is engaging, and fast-paced, and it keeps you at the edge of your seat. Best of all, particularly for the punters among you, it has some of the most interesting niche bets you can place.

In order to know enough about the sport to bet and expect a win, there needs to be some deep knowledge on your part. Doing your homework and analyzing key aspects of the sport is how you become good at sports betting in general, which is of course also true for hockey. In this article, we bring you the latest news as well as some relevant betting advice to start betting right away. Experience is the best teacher and it is high time you checked the odds on Canadian Ice Hockey and placed a few bets. 

Latest NHL News

The 2024 International Para Hockey Cup will soon begin in Ostrava, Czechia, where the Canadian national para hockey team will compete. The roster was assembled and we now know the names of the 18 players who will defend the Maple Leaf colors. The good news is that 14 of them will be players who were part of the winning squad at last May’s World Cup in Calgary. This instantly propels them to the very top of the favorites list and one of the surest bets for the title. Punters, take notice! Canada plays Italy on October 7, followed by a USA matchup a day later, and then the Czechs, the hosts, on October 10.

In other news, the NHL preseason is in full swing as plenty of games have been played. Panthers beat the Kinfs 4-2, Utah beat the Avalanche 2-1, Senators came on top over the Canadiens 4-2, and the Maple Leafs won their matchup against the Red Wings. Two of the highest-scoring games of the day came in the Blackhawks vs Blues game, 6-2, and the Shakrs vs Golden Knights clash, 6-5. The season starts on October 8 with a tripleheader of great games, prime for the taking if you are a fan of ice hockey betting. 

The season in North America starts this Tuesday as the Florida Panthers will raise their first Stanley Cup banner before their game against the Boston Bruins. Then it is the St. Louis Blues versus Seattle Kraken and the Chicago Blackhawks at Utah Hockey Club. On Wednesday, October 9, the New York Rangers are visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins while the Vegas Golden Knights host the Colorado Avalanche. 

But when do the Canadian teams have their season debuts and when are their season openers? The Montreal Canadiens face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 10, the same day that the Winnipeg Jets take on the Edmonton Oilers. To cap off the triple dose of Canadian rivalries, the Calgary Flames have the opening day matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. The Ottawa Senators will be the lone Canadian NHL team to play on October 11, opening their season against the Panthers. 

Advice Based on Latest Odds

This is where it gets interesting as we have the freshest odds for you concerning the NHL opening day matchups. For the Blues vs Kraken, the odds are +110 and -130, respectively. The Bruins and Panthers money line odds are +120 and -145, respectively. Maple Leafs are the bookies’ favorites with -175 over the Canadiens odds of +145. A tough matchup awaits the players as well as the bettors in the Rangers vs Penguins game since their respective odds are -115 and -105. 

The same goes for Avalanche (-105) and Golden Knights (-115). The Canucks have the most favorable odds for their game at -200 while the Flames are sitting at +165. Regarding the Jets and Oilers, the Winnipeg team fairs worse with +145 to the Edmonton’s -175. Among these 7 opening games between October 8 and October 10, there are plenty of chances for you to bet on ice hockey and test out your luck. 

Best Types of Bets to Place

The most common bets in ice hockey, similar to other sports, include money line, puck line, and totals (over/under). The money line bet is the usual where you pick the winner of a game. The puck line involves betting on a team to win by a certain margin, usually 1.5 goals, which adds a layer of challenge. When you bet on totals, you wager on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a specified number.

If that is too simple for you, worry not. For more niche bets, consider player prop bets where you can wager on individual performances like goals, assists, or total shots by a player. Another interesting option is the “first-period winner” bet, allowing you to bet on which team will lead after the first period. Other unique bets include “team to score first” or “exact score” for a higher risk and reward. These niche bets can make the experience more engaging and provide opportunities for deeper analysis. With some sportsbooks, you can even bet on whether or not there will be a fight among the players!

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