The 2010-2011 National Hockey League season is almost links. The 2010-2011 Stanley Cup champs the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to defend their crown. During the NHL hockey season Island Casino is your starting point for great Stanley Cup info. If you are new to NHL hockey betting we should be able to show you the ropes with this section. Check back daily for your source for the best NHL Betting here at Island Casino and Sportsbook.

Hockey betting is becoming more popular each year. This is known as one of the sports where a smart bettor who practiced proper money management can make some really huge profits. Once a bettor begins to study and understand Hockey Odds, he or she can gain a better understanding of how the bookies set their numbers. The bookies set a lot of these Hockey Odds with the public in mind. They know the public is going to bet the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins (and other public teams) every week so there are some great situations to get good numbers by going against teams like that.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Puck Line

The Puck Line: The Puck Line is the spread and it is always 1.5 points. That means a team must win by at least 1.5 points (or two goals) to beat the spread. Keep your eyes on offensively potent teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks as favorites to continually break the puck-line.

In the first game of the Oilers-Sharks series, the Sharks as the home team, with a hot goalie and as the higher seed were favored. The puck line would have looked something like this.

Edmonton Oilers +1.5 -180

San Jose Sharks -1.5 +160

In the example above, if you bet Edmonton and they lose 4 -3, you still win because you’re being given 1.5 goals. With the puck line, Edmonton wins 4 - 4.5. If you put money on San Jose, they would have to win by at least 2 goals for you to collect. Put $180 on the Oilers to win $100 and $100 on the Sharks to win $160.

Stanley Cup Wagering Tips

1) Whatever you do, always wager with your mind and not with your heart.

2) Travel can be a factor. A team having to fly a long distance from home will, even with today’s quick flights, often be fatigued and can be a great go against and warrant a playoff pick if the bookmakers price is right.

3) As teams get deeper into the playoffs, games tend to get tighter because the clubs are usually fairly evenly matched. Just remember that even Patrick Roi and Grant Fuhrer, two of the best playoff goalies ever, had off nights. Every goalie has that one
horrible playoff game where they give up five, six or seven goals.

4) Picking your long-term investments can be a difficult art form in hockey. Keep an eye on teams with marquee goaltending and beefy blue-lines to have a better shot at making it to the Stanley Cup Finals as opposed to teams that flash a high octane offense. Teams like Pittsburgh are surefire takes in the regular season, but as long-term investments in to the playoffs, they are hard to keep faith in.

For more information check out the main NHL hockey betting section which includes a page on hockey picks.

2011 Final Game Series

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