Hockey in Canada is more than just a sport. The National Hockey League attracts millions of fans, and many add to the excitement by betting on matches. 1xBet Canada offers a wide selection of NHL markets with competitive odds.
Registration and Navigation
The registration button is located in the upper right corner of the main page. When filling out the form, you will need your name, email and phone number. The site may request identity verification through documents for withdrawing winnings.
After registering, top up your account. 1xBet accepts bank cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrency. The minimum amount is usually between 10 and 20 CAD, and there are no deposit fees.
The NHL section is in the menu: click on “Hockey” in the left column, then select “NHL” from the list of leagues.
Main Types of Bets
Moneyline — choosing the winner of the match. Favourites are indicated by a negative odds (e.g. -150), underdogs by a positive odds (+130). When betting on a favourite with -150, you need to risk 150 CAD for a profit of 100 CAD. A bet on the underdog at +130 will yield a profit of CAD 130 on an investment of CAD 100.
Puck line is a hockey handicap, almost always 1.5 goals. The favourite gets -1.5, the underdog +1.5. A bet on the favourite with -1.5 requires a victory with a minimum difference of two goals. A bet on the underdog +1.5 wins if the team wins or loses by one goal.
The puck line offers better odds on favourites. Instead of -200 on a straight win, you can get +150 on a win by two goals. For underdogs, +1.5 provides insurance — losing by one goal does not kill the bet.
Totals (Over/Under) — a bet on the total number of goals scored by both teams. The line is usually 5.5-6.5 goals. If the line is 5.5 and you bet Over, you need at least 6 goals. If there are 5 or fewer, Under wins.
What to Look for Before Betting
Several factors critically influence the outcome of hockey matches:
- Goaltenders — the starting line-up of goalies is published a few hours before the match, and the goalie’s statistics (save percentage, goals against average) are often more important than the form of the team as a whole. Replacing the starting goalie with a backup can significantly change the odds.
- Schedule — teams play back-to-back (two matches in a row) regularly throughout the season, fatigue from the second game in two nights affects speed and concentration, home ice in such situations gives an additional advantage;
- Injuries and line-ups — the absence of a key forward from the first line changes the attacking potential, problems in defence make the team vulnerable on the puck line, line-up updates appear on the morning of the game day.
Additional Markets and Betting Options
In addition to the main lines, 1xBet offers dozens of alternative markets for hockey matches.
Period Betting
Period betting allows you to make predictions only for the first, second or third period. This is useful for teams that traditionally start fast or pick up speed towards the end. You can bet on the period winner or totals within 20 minutes.
Player Props
Individual bets on hockey players’ achievements: will a player score a goal (anytime goal scorer), make an assist or take a certain number of shots. Requires knowledge of lineups and statistics of first-line players.
Team Props
Team bets include predictions on which team will score first, the total number of shots on goal or penalties per match. These markets add variety to the standard lines.
Live Betting
Betting during the match with odds changing in real time. One goal can turn the lines upside down. The removal of a key defender or a goalkeeper substitution also affects the odds.
How to Read Odds
1xBet uses three formats: American (hundreds), decimal and fractional. Canadians are more familiar with the American format, where minus indicates the favourites and plus indicates the underdogs.
Odds of -200 mean: bet 200 CAD to win 100 CAD. Odds of +200: a bet of 100 CAD will yield a profit of 200 CAD. The decimal format is simpler: 2.50 means a return of 2.50 CAD for every dollar bet.
Odds of -150 imply a roughly 60% chance of winning according to the bookmaker. Odds of +150 imply a roughly 40% chance. This helps you gauge how closely the operator’s assessment matches your own analysis.
Strategies for NHL Betting
Several approaches can help you find value in hockey betting:
- Odds shopping — different bookmakers offer different lines for the same match; the difference may seem small, but it adds up over time (the difference between -145 and -150 is significant in the long run).
- Early betting — lines open the evening before or the morning of the game, bookmakers have not yet taken all the information into account, experienced players find inaccuracies in the assessment before the lines move en masse;
- Late bets — waiting until the last moment gives a complete picture of the line-ups, injuries and starting goalkeepers. This information reduces uncertainty, although it eliminates the chance of early favourable odds.
- Parlays with caution — parlays multiply the odds and increase the payout, but require a win in all selections.
Features of 1xBet for Canadians
1xBet operates under an international licence, which puts the platform in a “grey area” of Canadian law. The site is not directly licensed by provincial regulators, but it is not prohibited either. Withdrawals may take longer than with local bookmakers.
Seven NHL franchises are based in Canada: Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks. 1xBet offers extended markets on these teams’ matches, including special props.
Conclusions
Betting on the NHL through 1xBet starts with registration and choosing a deposit method. The main markets are moneyline, puck line and totals. Additional options such as period betting and player props expand the choice for experienced players.
Key factors before betting: starting goalkeeper, team schedule (especially back-to-back games) and current injuries.
