When do the NHL Playoffs start?

The 2023 NHL Playoffs are around the corner, and for those of you betting on hockey many are wondering when do they begin? The NHL regular season is set to end on Thursday, April 13, 2023, and the playoffs will start soon after, with the exact start date yet to be determined.

Another important question for NHL Playoff Betting enthusiasts is how many teams make the playoffs? Sixteen teams out of the 32 league teams make the playoffs, with eight from each conference. The top three finishers of both divisions and two wildcard teams from each conference make the playoffs, resulting in eight first-round matchups. It’s worth noting that there are no first-round byes.

The format for the NHL Playoffs all four rounds follow the best four out of seven format with a home-and-away schedule.

Game 1: Home
Game 2: Home
Game 3: Away
Game 4: Away
Game 5: Home
Game 6: Away
Game 7: Home

This means that each team will play a maximum of seven games in each series, alternating between home and away games, with the team that wins four games first advancing to the next round. With all this information, NHL Playoff Betting enthusiasts can make informed decisions and enjoy the excitement of the playoffs.

There are several reasons why the NHL playoffs are often considered more exciting than the regular season:

1. Higher stakes: In the playoffs, every game matters much more than in the regular season. A team can be eliminated with just one loss, so the pressure is much higher.

2. Intensity and physicality: Players often play with more intensity and physicality in the playoffs. Every hit, shot, and play can make a difference in the outcome of the game, and players are willing to put their bodies on the line to win.

3. Tighter games: Playoff games are often much closer in score than regular season games, as teams are more evenly matched and both teams are playing with greater effort and focus.

4. Fan support: The atmosphere in the arena during playoff games is often electric, with fans cheering and chanting throughout the game. This creates a more exciting and engaging experience for viewers.

Overall, the combination of higher stakes, increased intensity and physicality, tighter games, and enthusiastic fan support make the NHL playoffs more exciting than the regular season.

The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cups in NHL history, with 24 championships. The Canadiens have a rich history, having won their first Cup in 1916 and their most recent in 1993. They also won the most in a row five between 1955-56 and 1959-60.

There are currently 11 teams that have not won the NHL Championship, the Minnesota Wild, the Arizona Coyotes, the Buffalo Sabres, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Florida Panthers, the Ottawa Senators, the Vancouver Canucks, the Nashville Predators, the San Jose Sharks, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the newest NHL team the Seattle Kraken.

For those of you looking to wager on the upcoming NHL Playoffs we have provided some insight on the most popular wager types:

Moneyline: This is a simple bet on which team will win the game outright.

Puck line: Similar to a point spread in other sports, the puck line is a bet on the margin of victory. In the NHL, the puck line is usually set at +/- 1.5 goals.

Over/Under: This is a bet on the total number of goals that will be scored in a game. The sportsbook sets a total, and bettors can wager on whether they think the actual number of goals scored will be over or under that total.

Futures: These are bets placed on events that will take place in the future, such as which team will win the Stanley Cup or which player will win the Hart Trophy for the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Prop bets: These are bets on specific events within a game, such as which player will score the first goal or how many penalty minutes a player will have.

Overall, the most popular bets in NHL are usually moneyline, puck line, and over/under bets, as they are straightforward and easy to understand. However, futures and prop bets can also be popular among fans looking for longer-term or more specific bets.

To bet on the upcoming NHL Playoffs, sign-up at BetOnline.