If you’re following an NHL blog, you’ll have an ear to the ground on which players will be moved ahead of the trade deadline on February 27^th, and those players will likely be traded to improve a team’s chances for the postseason stretch run. These playoff races can affect how you wager on teams on a daily basis, and here are a couple tips to help you out.

Health Can Be An Issue

Players will push themselves to the limit to help their teams to get to the postseason; those that play March Madness odds will see the same thing in college hoops. You have to pay extra attention to injuries when it comes to the stretch run as players miss games all the time due to being banged up. You also have to watch out for the teams that are already in; much like the NFL, NHL teams will rest players ahead of the schedule.

Who Has The Momentum?

Following the stretch run can help you figure out which team(s) you’re going to wager on in regards to the Stanley Cup, from futures to day-to-day betting. You’ll get to see which teams are starting to come together and which are best equipped to handle the pressure of the playoffs, and who will wilt under the pressure. You can also see if a team has been able to take their foot off the gas heading into the playoffs; can they get back into a rhythm in time to make a run at the Stanley Cup? That will affect a team’s odds at online betting sites.