The 2020 NHL bubble playoffs created a unique betting environment. No fans, neutral-site games, and pandemic uncertainty made traditional handicapping factors obsolete. The lessons learned apply to unusual circumstances in sports betting generally.

Home Ice Disappeared

Without crowds or travel, home ice advantage vanished. Designated home teams showed no performance edge, making it pure team-vs-team analysis. This taught me how much of home advantage is crowd-driven versus venue-specific factors.