NHL hockey news is taking center stage right now because of the playoffs, and there has been a lot of physical, bordering on dirty (as nine suspensions would attest to) play. However, if you can be physical without crossing the line, you stand a good chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

A lot of betting players rode Boston to the Cup win last year and many feel that it was for one sole reason: the Bruins were a tougher team than Vancouver and the Canucks eventually folded. You can force the opposition into making mistakes if you’re a physical team; for example, a defenseman will definitely start to hear footsteps from oncoming forecheckers if he is being hit everything he goes back to retrieve the puck, and that leads to mistakes and rushed passes.

You can also make players take penalties as they look to get back at you for a hit, and the theory states in the world of hockey that referees will see the retaliation, not the original play that may have sparked the retaliation. Penalties lead to power plays and if you give a team enough chances on the power play, they’ll eventually cash in.

Of course, you can’t just bully your way to a Cup (although Vancouver fans may feel differently about that), but you have to bring a physical element to your game. If you’re a skilled team, but also can’t be pushed around, your odds will go up at online sportsbooks.