NHL Ice Hockey Betting Preview – Chicago start defence of Title

The hits, thrills and spills of the NHL resume next week, and if you have never thought about placing a bet on the Ice Hockey, then let this be an interesting guide for you. There are generally some very good odds around, and with games going on pretty much every night, then there is ample opportunity to make some decent profit. Sadly coverage on UK TV isn’t great, but from a personal perspective, this is one of the most exciting sports to engage yourself in watching. Ice Hockey betting makes for some pretty exciting action as well. This time last year, the Chicago Blackhawks were being tipped in ice hockey betting, as one of the main threats to win the prestigious Stanley Cup. That they did. He were take an ice hockey betting look at the Western Conference first. The NHL is separated into two conferences, the Eastern and Western, and then each Conference is split into three divisions. The winners of each division automatically qualify for the Stanley Cup Play Offs at the end of the season, joined by the five best runners up from any of the divisions.

If you have never dipped into ice hockey betting online, then you may be surprised at the enjoyment you can get from it, as there are some great odds available throughout the regular season matches, and now, before the first puck is dropped in anger, before anyone drops the gloves, before anyone lights the lamp, then there are some great ante post prices to pick up on. Here is your guide to the best of them.

Western Conference Outright Betting

Chicago Blackhawks: 7/2 at Bet365
Vancouver Cancuks: 1/2 at Bwin
Detroit Red Wings: 6/1 at Bwin
San Jose Sharks: 7/1 at Stan James
LA Kings: 10/1 at BetFred

Stanley Cup champions the Chicago Blackhawks are the outright favourites in the betting for this one and rightly so. They looked so slick and so strong last year, they will be very hard to stop again. What has happened though, is that they have had to ring in the changes, just so that they can stay under the salary cap. Has that made them weaker? Maybe not weaker, just a different prospect. Their main core is all there, and that is so strong, Chicago will ride them hard. Surprisingly the Vancouver Canucks are near the front of the running, edging out what really are the stronger Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks. What Vancouver has done well is manage their squad, and they are in a position for the first time to really build upon last season. They are worth a bet, probably not as strong as Chicago, but should still be in the mix. The Red Wings are an elite side, but an aging one, and the San Jose Sharks, who are always difficult to play, look stronger than the Devils, and possible the Canucks and a worth a bet, especially as they have beefed up their goal tending significantly. The La Kings probably make the biggest outside bet who actually has a realistic chance of making the great. They are a team still on the up, but question marks will hang over them as the NHL waits to see if they really are still going forward as a team.
Tips: Chicago, San Jose

Central Division Outright Betting Odds

Chicago Blackhawks: 5/6 at Blue Square
Detroit Red Wings: 5/4 at Bet365
Nashville Predators: 16/1 at BetFred
St Louis Blues: 16/1 at Totesport
Columbus Blue Jackets: 80/1 at Bet365

Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, St Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets.
This division has been pretty much all about two teams recently. That is the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. They are the stand out teams in the division, and with the other three teams seemingly standing someway behind them in terms of quality, it should be a straight dogfight between those two, which the Blackhawks edging it. However, Nashville are always one of those scrappy teams who make something out of nothing against better opposition, St Louis will be hoping for development from young stars, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have a new General Manager and go as something of an unpredictable dark horse. While the chasers may have good seasons in patches, the Blackhawks and Red Wings have the proven longevity to win.
Tips: Chicago, Detroit

Northwest Division Outright Betting Odds

Vancouver Canucks: 2/7 at SkyBet
Calgary Flames: 6/1 at Bet365
Colorado Avalanche: 13/2 at Bet365
Edmonton Oilers: 40/1 at Boylesports
Minnesota Wild: 40/1 at Blue Square

Vancouver Cancuks, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalance, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild.
All signals are pointing the emergence of Vancouver as a strong arm in the Western Conference this year, so they make the sensible bet to win the Northwest division. The Canucks have a better defence on paper than last year, and have plenty of scoring talent. The Calgary Flames have fallen a little flatter than should be over the past couple of years, and that really leaves the door wide open for the Canucks to really push on for over 100 points again this season, and really dominate. The Colorado Avalanche are a strong solid team, which could push hard, but there just isn’t enough in any of the other teams to look as if they will even come close.
Tip: Vancouver, Colorado

Pacific Division Outright Betting Odds

San Jose Sharks: 11/10 at Bet365
LA Kiigs: 8/5 at Stan James
Phoenix Coyotes: 12/1 at 888Sport
Anaheim Ducks: 14/1 at Boylesports
Dallas Stars: 22/1 at Bet365

San Jose Sharks, LA Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars
The San Jose Sharks are one of the teams in the Western Conference who can make a genuine run at the Stanley Cup. They really have it in them, and that will obviously put them in good standing for your ice hockey betting on them winning their division. They are a powerhouse team which can really intimidate others. The LA Kings are an interesting one to watch, as they have a fantastic core of players, who really pushed the team on to performing better than they were ever expected to last year. Now the big question will be if they can take it to the next level and challenge the Sharks. Not sure they are that strong just yet, but the Coyotes, Ducks and Stars all shadows of what they really should be, it will come down to how far the Sharks can stretch their legs over the Kings.
Tip: San Jose, LA Kings