Some early NHL postseason betting trends are showing up. And it’s time to profit from them.
Early NHL Postseason Betting Trends
The NHL playoffs got underway with the calendar turning the page to the month of May. Through one week of action, smarter bettors are already paying close attention to the early NHL postseason betting trends. Some are cashing in on some big winning plays at their favorite online sportsbooks.
There are eight different best-of-seven matchups in the opening round of this season’s NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Through the first 28 games of play, the home team has won 58.3% of the time. The winning rate for the favorite in those games is also 58.3%.
Early scoring has been through the roof with 62.5% of the games going OVER the closing total line. Only one NHL playoff contest has been decided in overtime with the Pittsburgh Penguins winning their series opener against the New York Rangers in the third overtime period.
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Mostly Tight Playoff Matchups
Play remains tight heading into Monday night’s four Game 4 matchups. Four of the series are knotted at two games apiece with a crucial Game 5 tilt set for Tuesday night. With the exception of the Colorado Avalanche’s 3-0 series lead against Nashville. The other seven series are too close to call.
The two trends that stand out the most from the early postseason action in the NHL is the higher scoring and blowout games.
Betting the OVER definitely offers some added value along with getting a more favorable price on the favorite betting a NHL three-way line. With only one game tied at the end of regulation, overtime has not been a factor through the first seven days of action.
Jump on Early NHL Postseason Betting Trends
Everything could turn on a dime given the unpredictable nature of playoff hockey.
But riding the early trends still makes sense until they do.
Hockey oddsmakers have already adjusted the betting lines accordingly. Heading into Monday night’s games, the road team is favored across the board on the opening money line. The total for those four games is set at six or higher for three of the four contests.
A total of 28 goals were scored in Sunday’s four games with seven or more goals scored in three of the four matchups. Going back to Saturday’s action, that total added up to 34 goals with six or more goals scored in all four contests.
That is a trend that is just too hard to ignore.
OVER Providing Solid Value
Even if the scoring dies down a bit early in the week. Betting the OVER could continue to add value as each of these eight series wear on. Of all NHL postseason betting trends, this one has offered huge value.
Checking the adjusted series price odds, everything has tightened up given just how close these opening round matchups have been. With the exception of Colorado as a prohibitive favorite to close out Nashville, you can also find some solid betting value in those adjusted series odds.
Moving on to the adjusted NHL futures, the Avalanche remain the clear favorites to win this season’s Stanley Cup title at +250 odds. The two best value bets on the board could be the Tampa Bay Lightning at +1200 out of the Eastern Conference and the Minnesota Wild out of the West at +1400.
The main takeaway from these early results is the overall excitement of NHL playoff hockey. The unpredictable nature of these games offers the ultimate test when it comes to your NHL playoffs handicapping skills.
