NHL Hockey Playoff Betting

Betting on The Goal Tender in the NHL Playoffs

The last line of defense for a hockey team is not a line at all but one guy who stands in net. He’s the only player not directly involved in scoring goals. He’s a breed apart. He can make all the difference between advancing from one round to the next and plays a big role in winning NHL hockey playoff betting.

What are some characteristics that might make the difference between losing and winning the 1 – 0 OT game and your playoff bet? Here are some basic things to consider when analyzing each net minder this NHL playoffs betting season.

Bookmaker is considered by most to be the best online book for NHL playoff betting because of the opening lines its offers. Click here to visit Bookmaker today!

Positioning and Dexterity:

You would think all NHL goalies have good positioning and excellent dexterity. Overall they do, however, some are better than others. A goalie always needs to be square to the puck, giving him the optimum chance of stopping the projectile. A goalie who can’t readily adjust to the give and go or who is unsure of when to challenge an oncoming center will eventually give up the big one. Look for consistency in positioning and an ability to change position with the flow of the play. Some goalies seem to be a half-second behind the movement of passes and dekes and that can be disastrous.

5 Dimes is offering a special 20% signup bonus for all gamblers betting on the NHL playoffs!

Recovery Rate:

He’s down on the ice, and he’s back up—instantly! Goalies that shoot back up immediately after going down and are ready for the rebound cover more net and make more saves. A young goalie may have an edge in this area since they have younger, more resilient legs. There are a slew of rookie net minders in the playoffs this year and both teams in the finals may just have a neophyte in goal.

Click here for a 50% signup bonus from Sportbet. A great way to boost your hockey playoff betting from the start!

Patience Quotient and Reaction Time:

This one is tricky. Every goalie has a book on each player he’s facing. They know tendencies and can read tells. But overall, goalies have to be reactionary. They must be patient and wait for that final move by the shooter. Anticipating a move can make a net man look foolish, along with costing a goal. If a goalie is patient, then a quick reaction time is essential. The edge in this area often goes to the veteran, who is less prone to overreact in a tight situation.

Also, check out a goaltender’s basic statistics—save percentage (perhaps the most important), goals against average, one-goal wins, and OT wins. These stats along with an analysis of a tender’s basic skills will help you determine who will be left standing at the end of a series as well as how well you have done NHL playoff betting this season.

For more articles on the NHL playoffs click here. Maddux Sports is the number 1 hockey picks team offering NHL picks and playoff betting advice on the NHL all season long to visitors of americas number 1 sports betting and handicapping website, madduxsports.com.