A win to nil bet in hockey means you are picking a team to win and that it will also record a shutout by not conceding a goal. In order to win this type of bet and cash in on your winnings, both of these outcomes need to occur.
With a win to nil bet in hockey and the NHL, you will not win if both teams score a goal, or the team you selected loses the game. It does not matter if a team wins a game 1-0 or 5-0. All that counts is you get the winning team right and the loser fails to score. While win to nil bets are risky in hockey because it's much likely that each team will score at least one goal, they are attractive because they offer high odds and the chance to get a big payoff.
Because NHL games no longer end in ties, it is important to make sure you understand the exact parameters of the bet.
This is because in the NHL and many other sports one way you can bet is on the outcome of the game in regulation time. Another way to wager is on the final outcome of a game - whether it is decided in regulation, overtime, or, in hockey's case, by a shootout. The odds for these two types of bets will vary and will both adjust according to how people are betting.
There are some general things to consider when placing a win to nil bet. A team that is heavily favored, for example, is more likely to produce both a win and a shutout than a slight favorite. A team that dominates a game is less likely to allow a goal.
You also want to look at how the teams are performing in terms of scoring and preventing goals. Some teams are better at outscoring the opposition in wide-open games, while others are more prone to take a defensive approach. In terms of a win to nil bet, it's usually better to take the teams that are more defensively inclined.
Other factors that could come into play include things like trades and injuries. Also, look to see if a team is on a scoring streak or has a goalie in great form who hasn't been allowing many goals of late. For whatever reason, hockey goalies go through phases where it seems like they can stop everything that comes their way.
In short, do your research and also keep your eye on the various bookmakers to see which ones are offering the more favorable odds.
Win to nil bets are similar to wagers known as correct score bets - with one notable exception. In a correct score bet you are predicting the exact final score of the game, as opposed to just one team winning and not allowing any goals. Correct score bets are even harder to accurately pick, but do offer good payouts because of the higher odds.
