The 2024 NHL regular season gave us plenty of excitement. But the playoffs are the most important part of the year for any true hockey fan. That means that the best is yet to come.
At NordicBet, you can bet on NHL for upcoming playoff games, predict which team will be the champion, or even which conference or country the winner will come from. There are plenty of options to choose from, so understanding NHL betting and the sport itself is vital to finding the right ice hockey odds for your betting style.
NHL Betting History
The competitiveness of the NHL can be seen in its former champions. Rarely do we see a team win back-to-back finals or stay at the top of the league for years. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh are the only ones that have won two championships in a row in the past ten years, and this year, Vegas has a chance to do it, too.
Last year's trophy went to Sin City, but the Knights from Vegas aren't doing that well this year, which opens the door to many challengers. However, if you believe a repeat could happen, you'll find competitive NHL odds at NordicBet.
NHL Overview
The NHL is the world's leading ice hockey league and, as such, presents plenty of opportunities for fans all over the world to bet on NHL. At NordicBet, you'll find extensive NHL odds, multiple markets for betting on regular-season games, and the most important part—the playoffs.
Explore our user-friendly platform if you want to take part in predicting who will take the championship trophy this year and find extensive NHL odds.
NHL Betting Markets
Regardless of whether you're a fan of live odds or upcoming matches, you'll be able to find the appropriate markets for NHL betting at NordicBet. On our platform, you'll discover a variety of available bets for any of the upcoming NHL playoff games. Whether you prefer making moneyline picks or predicting the total number of goals, we have you covered.
Some players also enjoy predicting specific NHL playoff outcomes, such as 'Conference Winners', 'Top Scorers', and 'Player Awards'. To do so, head to the 'Outrights' section of the NHL page and make your picks before the season ends.
2024 NHL Playoff Format
The NHL Playoffs are similar in structure to other major leagues, like the NBA. This means that eight teams from both conferences make it to the postseason. The #1 seed goes against the #8 seed, the #2 seed faces #7, the #3 battles #6, and the #4 and #5 play for the next stage.
Each matchup goes into a series of a maximum of seven games, scheduled as 2-2-1-1-1. The first two and the potential fifth and seventh games are played on the better-ranked team's ice, giving them a home-ice advantage when it matters most, in a potential game seven. Naturally, games five, six, and seven are only played when necessary, giving the better team a chance to end the series with only four games.
All playoff rounds are played in this format until the conference champions are announced. These winners go into another series where it's decided which team wins this year's NHL trophy.
NHL Playoff Odds 2024
As usual, the teams in the top spot of the conference at the end of the regular season have to face the eighth-ranked team from their side of the bracket. These matchups provide the best NHL playoff odds in 2024, as the difference in quality between the teams should be the most significant.
In the Easter Conference, the New York Rangers are going against the Washington Capitals and should easily take care of the eighth seed. But, in the west, the number one seed, the Dallas Stars, are battling last year's champions, the Las Vegas Knights. We can't count out the defending champs in the first round, despite them not seeming as dominant as last year.
Check out the rest of the NHL playoff odds for 2024 and see which matchups give you the most value based on team performance.
NHL Season Predictions
Betting on the NHL playoffs requires some ice hockey knowledge. The number-one seed does not always make it all the way to the end, but that's why we have the playoffs.
Of course, reviewing the available NHL odds is the right approach to understanding each team's chances in the postseason. Betting on better-ranked teams, like Carolina and New York, to make it through the first stage might not bring the most significant payouts but might cause less stress at the beginning of the playoffs.
For the later stages, paying attention to how each team performs in round one and if any crucial players get injured before the tougher matchups will be crucial. Being up-to-date with all the information related to the league will give you the best chance of working the ice hockey championship odds in your favour.
Why Bet on NHL Playoffs at NordicBet
At NordicBet, we aim to provide our customers with the best ice hockey betting opportunities, and the NHL playoffs are the most exciting part of that offer. Hockey's most popular competition is entertaining in itself, and the postseason is when the league becomes even more interesting.
You can bet on live and upcoming games; no matter which route you choose, you'll have plenty of markets available on our user-friendly platform secured with SSL encryption technology to safeguard you and your information.
Of course, you can also bet on who will win the Stanley Cup, take home the Conn Smythe Trophy, or make it out of the conference. But if you have any questions, 24/7 customer support will be there to resolve them.