Being able to win more than you lose betting hockey takes time. It's a process from learning the basic wagering techniques and studying opening lines to branching out and identifying the most optimal bet. Many times, after all that careful analysis, you'll find there are no edges. That's all part of the NHL handicapping process and many times it's best to pass and move on to the next game. But eventually, you'll find some prime matchup or situational spots to put the odds in your favor.
Betting Value in Free NHL Picks of the Day
Those selected spots are where the real wagering value lies. This comes about from analysis and deduction. If a team with a losing record is terrible on the road but is playing .500 hockey at home, that gives handicappers a good start in locating potential line value. They will probably be a home underdog quite often against better teams but clearly play much better in front of their home fans.
Wunderdog Free NHL Picks of the Day
I'm up to date with all the daily NHL hockey information that's available, from news reports to my own personal NHL database. In addition, I incorporate situational handicapping into my analysis, such as three games in four nights, revenge spots, road trips, and back-to-back spots. I've been outmaneuvering the oddsmakers for over two decades with a deep understanding of the odds and daily line movement. The NHL picks I release are packed with analysis of who is going to beat the odds and why.
Free NHL Picks of the Day vs. Premium Picks
Free NHL Picks of the Day Pros:
- Insight into how situations affect teams and players
- Various wagering options presented (puck line, props, parlays, totals)
- With dozens of NHL teams and players, everyone can use assistance streamlining the essential information
Free NHL Picks of the Day Cons:
- Confusing to newcomers
- Old information or data that's irrelevant
- Overreliance on hockey favorites, also known as "chalk"
Premium NHL Picks of the Day Pros:
- Helps build your betting intelligence and confidence
- Essential wagering info at no cost
- Zeroes in on line movement and explains why it's moving
Premium NHL Picks of the Day Cons:
- Added cost will eat into your betting bankroll
- Aggrandized winning percentages
- Underappreciation of money management
How To Win With Free NHL Picks of the Day
Like mastering any profession, winning in sports betting requires work, focus, discipline, and adherence to the basic rules. The work is the building block. This encompasses understanding team strengths and weaknesses, keeping track of injuries, and anticipating unique scheduling dynamics that can influence performance. And you don't have to go it alone. Reading the opinions of hockey insiders and documented sports handicappers aids in projecting the outcome more accurately.
Free NHL Picks of the Day Betting Strategy
Deceptive Box Scores
Final scores only tell a small part of the story. It's common to find underdogs pulling a 3-2 upset. But how did they do it? If they got outshot 44-24, they took a defensive approach and hung on, probably by some outstanding (or even luck) goaltending. The upset isn't an indicator that they will do that the next game, although the defensive approach may carry over. However, if a team pulled a 3-2 upset with the coach making changes to his lines while injecting a top minor-league prospect, that tells an astute handicapper a different story. Perhaps the youngster has helped improve the offense and the lineup changes might be permanent and more productive. Those are things that will carry over to the next game.
NHL Team Depth
Hockey coaches build their teams around their best players. Since there are only a handful of outstanding players, how a team constructs its depth around the stars is just as important. Effective role players sacrifice stats for the betterment of the team, such as passing, hustling back on defense, or throwing their bodies at shots on net. The same thing applies to backup goalies. Some back-ups are very good and could start for other teams while weaker ones can be a defensive detriment. Complimentary players are not a dime a dozen. Good ones make the difference between a mediocre to a good to great team.
The Angry Dog
Players aren't angry. They're professional athletes who are well-paid and take their craft seriously. Anger in sports refers to the team: do they have a chip on their shoulder for an upcoming game? Teams can get embarrassed having a bad outing in a 7-1 blowout loss, but that doesn't mean the poor play will carry over to the next game. Coaches and teams can put intense effort in during practice after getting embarrassed and can't wait to take the ice in the next game, particularly if it's in front of the hometown fans. Teams off bad losses in the role of an underdog can offer some choice wagering value. Other times, a team can play with great intensity in a division rivalry or in a rematch with a foe that walked all over them earlier in the season in the previous matchup. Some underdogs pull upsets on luck, but plenty of others have focused reasons for doing so. It's the job of the successful NHL handicapper to notice those potential upsets before they happen.
Free NHL Picks of the Day Subscription
All the matchup and wagering angles above are a part of my daily handicapping routine - and more. I examine the daily hockey wire for information that stands out to help project tonight's final scores all geared toward identifying the top NHL wagering opportunities on the board. Winning betting hockey is not about luck, but about putting in the effort with an experienced eye. Put the winning odds on your side by accessing my NHL picks on a free subscription service to help you predict the final score before the puck is even dropped.