Betting Hockey 101

You're closer to winning than you think. Let's get you started.

Which sounds like you?

The 3 Bets You Need to Know

Start here. These three bets make up 90% of hockey betting.

What Makes Hockey Different

Four things that make or break hockey bets:

🥅

Goalie = 70% of the Game

A hot goalie can shut down anyone. A cold goalie? Easy OVER.

Check today's starters
📅

Back-to-Back Games

Teams playing consecutive nights are tired. Backup goalie usually starts. Big edge.

Power Play & Penalty Kill

Good PP vs bad PK? Goals incoming. Check team special teams rankings.

🏠

Home Ice Matters

Home teams get last change (better matchups). Plus crowd energy is real.

Don't Make These Mistakes

Save yourself some money. Avoid these rookie errors:

❌ Betting Your Favorite Team

Emotion kills bankroll. The Leafs are your team? Cool. That doesn't mean bet them every night.

❌ Ignoring the Goalie

Checking who's in net takes 30 seconds. Not checking costs you money.

❌ Chasing Big Parlays

That 10-team parlay looks fun until you go 9-1 and win nothing. Stick to singles or small parlays.

❌ Betting Every Game

There are 12 games tonight. You don't need action on all of them. Pick your spots.

Your First Week Blueprint

Here's exactly what to do. No overthinking.

1

Today: Set Up

  • • Pick a sportsbook (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM all work)
  • • Deposit an amount you're okay losing ($50-$200 to start)
  • • Check out PuckLuck's Pick of the Day (it's free)
2

This Week: Watch & Learn

  • • Watch 3-5 games without betting (learn the flow)
  • • Notice how goalies affect the game
  • • Check starting lineups before puck drop
3

Week 2: Start Small

  • • Make 5-10 bets MAX ($10-25 each)
  • • Stick to moneyline or totals to start
  • • Track every bet in a spreadsheet

Ready to Start Winning?

You've got the basics. Now let's put them to work.