NHL
Professional ice hockey is played all across the globe but, for many fans, it’s all about the NHL. The National Hockey League houses the biggest teams and the highest density of world class players so it’s no wonder that it attracts the most attention from viewers. The interest extends to our sportsbook here at Unibet which becomes increasingly active whenever the new NHL season approaches. To support our wide set of betting markets, we also have Unibet TV - a live streaming service which is available to all of our customers without subscription.
The NHL: A Concise History and Current Format
In the present day, the NHL consists of 31 teams: 24 are from the United States and the remaining seven hail from across the border in Canada. While the headquarters are situated in New York City, the organization actually began in Canada and it was founded in 1917 in Montreal.
The initial intake of teams were more evenly distributed between the two North American countries but, in time, new franchises began to emerge. We now have those 31 teams in place, all of whom take part in a long and gruelling season.
It all begins with those sides separated into Divisions and Conferences: There are two NHL Conferences - Eastern and Western - and both contain four divisions. Teams will now play 82 matches as part of the regular season and, at the end of that long sequence, the best performing franchises will progress to the playoffs.
In the first and second round, games will be played on a straight knockout basis and the first side to win seven matches progresses to the next stage. Following on, we now have the Conference Finals and, ultimately, the Finals series which will see our Stanley Cup champions crowned.
It’s a long and packed schedule with a lot of ice hockey to cover and Unibet are here with markets for every single match in the regular and the post season. Alongside that extensive set of betting options, we have Unibet TV ready to live stream the best of the action to any of your connected devices.
Teams to Watch
Unibet will publish outright markets ahead of, and throughout the NHL season and these will quote odds for all 31 participating teams. The market is there to help customers make a decision but can we use historical statistics to assist those choices?
Looking back at more than 100 years of action, the most successful team in the history of the NHL is the Montreal Canadiens. With 24 titles, they are way ahead of the competition although their last Stanley Cup triumph came back in 1993. Lagging behind in second place are the Toronto Maple Leafs with 13 titles while the Detroit Red Wings are next with 11.
Other franchises with multiple Stanley Cup medals in their cabinet include Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders and the New York Rangers.
Betting on the NHL and Watching the Live Action
Outright betting on the National Hockey League can be considered some way in advance of each campaign. Long range, ante post betting can sometimes return greater value in higher odds and our customers will have plenty of time to consider the credentials of each of the 31 franchises.
When the regular season does get underway, match betting comes along with markets for every single game across all sections of the NHL campaign. Match result picks will be in place and, like all major ice hockey games, there will be a set of prop markets to consider. Live markets will also be in place for those that enjoy staking in play.
You don’t have to stake on any NHL game to watch the live feed from Unibet TV and, as long as you have funds in your customer account, you can access all of the action. The stream can be picked up in a number of ways, so you can view via desktop, laptop or any mobile device as long as there is a WiFi connection.
It’s a flexible TV package and one that completes an excellent platform for all members of the NHL betting community.
