Explaining European Handicap in Hockey

In most sports ✅betting, the Handicap line is usually made available. Its nature and benefits make it the perf𒐪ect market for a sport like hockey.

Bettin♉g in hockey is different from what is obtainable elsewhere due to how the game is played. This article provides the basics of the game and why European Handicap is suitable for this sport.

The Basics of Hockey

Hockey is a rigorous sport between two teams. Each team consists of five skatesmen and a goaltender. There areඣ usually 2 defensemen and 3 forwards. The objective of the game is to get more goals at full time.

The game has three periods, and ꧙in the event of a tie over the periods, there would be overtime and th🌳en the shootout.

The Uniqueness of European Handicap Betting in Hockey

It is import🧸ant to note that Hockey games are usually ve💙ry close and won by a narrow margin. 

Here, the blowouts only happen once in a blue moon. The wins are usually narrow, with 3 – 5 goals in between. Also, the chances of winning by 1 or 2 goals are usually closer than what is obtainable elsewhere.

For instan🦩ce, when a team is leading by a goal, most times, the opponent would take out the goaltender for another skater.

This 👍often happens during the last minutes of the game. The idea is to strengthen❀ their offence. Nonetheless, it also gives the leading team better scoring chances. So if they are able to get possession, they have an open net to shoot at.

European Handicap is 🎐a 3-way bet type, so bettors can also stake on a draw.

European Handicap Betting Odds in Hockey 

Putting additional elements t♎o your bet would naturally increase the odds as you are also incurring more risk. This is the case with European Handic✱ap.

However, each ෴sport has a valuable aspect that punters can leverage. In hockey, the value spot is the prevalence of late goa♒ls and the close goal difference.

An Example of European Handicap in Hockey

Let’s take an NHL match between Pittsburgh and Ottawa, for example. With Pittsburgh as the obvious favourite to win the game, a bookmaker writes down odds of 1.56 for an outright win after the complete 60 minutes. However, you can jerk up the odds a little biﷺt by going for a European Handicap of -1.0 goals. This could increase t💮he odds to the borders of 2.0.

This handicap implies that the favourites are gi🌊ven a fictitious ဣgoal deficit at the start of the game. On the other end, a goal is added to the underdog to increase their chances and handicap Pittsburgh.

So for a bet on Pittsburgh to come through, they have to win with at least 2 goal lea🍷d. The chances can be reduced to what will happen when Pittsburgh are up by just a goal difference.

A common occurrence is that the underdogs pull their netminder to create a better﷽ offence. Unfortunately, this also leaves them wanting in the backline. It provides a better chance for the favourite to get another goal over Ottawa.

Conclusion

Hockey is a unique sport with tende꧟ncies that punters can take advantage of. One of the best ways 💎to achieve this is with the European Handicap.