I know I am about to jinx this system as soon as I post it, but it's worked out great for me so far.
If a team is up by a goal, you make three bets:
1. 1U on the trailing team to win (usually 1 to 2U win)
2. 1U on the winning team to win by 1.5 (usually 1 to 2U win)
3. 1U on over 1.5 goals for the rest of the game (usually 0.5 to 1U win)
Rationale: Even if there's no goals for most of the period, there will be an empty net where there's a very good chance at least one goal will be scored. The only way you can lose all three units is if the score remains unchanged. If the winning team scores one goal, you lose the other two bets but come close to breaking even. If the trailing team scores you clinch the over but also have a shot at a come from behind win.
So far the above strategy has worked out (today with the Habs, yesterday with the Blues). But I can understand why people wouldn't care for that one. The next one is much, much stronger
If a team is up by two goals, you make three bets:
1. 1U on the trailing team to win (usually 5-10U win)
2. 1U on the winning team to win by 2.5 (usually 1 to 2U win)
3. 1U on over 1.5 goals for the rest of the game (usually 0.5 to 1U win)
This one makes sense because if a team is down by two, they're going to play open and aggressive hockey for the full period. Even if the game's score is unchanged, the net will be empty at the first opportunity once the clock hits 18 minutes. There are two ways you can lose all three bets - no change in score or if the trailing team scores once. If each team scores once you lose two of the three. But the payoff if the trailing team comes from behind is huge, and if the winning team scores twice, you're also doing very well. The obvious big win for me on this one was the Avs last night.
Putting it to practice tonight with the Ducks -1.5 to win 1.2 units and Dallas to win for 4U. Unfortunately my bookie only offered over 5.5 goals for a 2.1 unit win. I took it, but that leaves me open for losses on all three if Dallas come back to tie, only to lose in OT.