How to bet on the NHL
Hockey is bet mostly on the moneyline, with the puck line and the total as the other main markets.
Key points
- The puck line is almost always 1.5 goals: the favorite at -1.5 has to win by 2 or more.
- A regular moneyline includes overtime and the shootout; a three-way regulation line doesn't.
- On a three-way line a tie after 60 minutes is its own outcome, so a bet on either team loses if the game goes to overtime.
On this page
The main NHL bets
Here is one of this week's games with the best price on each bet at the four sportsbooks we compare.
| Bet | Pittsburgh Penguins | Montréal Canadiens |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +104 (BetOnline) | -118 (BetOnline) |
| Puck line | +1.5 -227 (Bovada) | -1.5 +196 (BetUS) |
| Total | Over 6.5 -120 (BetOnline) | Under 6.5 +107 (MyBookie) |
Sat, Oct 31. Best price across MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS (spreads and totals: the best line first, then the price), updated Oct 31, 6:11 PM ET.
- Moneyline: pick the winner, overtime and shootout included. Hockey's most popular bet.
- Puck line: a spread fixed at 1.5 goals, so the price does the moving.
- Total: over or under the combined goals, overtime and shootout included, usually 5.5 to 6.5 and sometimes 6 or 7, with prices that shift more than the number.
The puck line
Many hockey games are decided by one goal, and every overtime or shootout win is by one goal. So the favorite at -1.5 usually pays a plus price, and the underdog at +1.5 costs a big minus price. Empty-net goals late in a game are what save some -1.5 bets.
One favorite, two bets (example prices)
- Moneyline
- -170
- $100 wins
- $58.82
- Puck line -1.5
- +150
- $100 wins
- $150
The puck line bet loses every one-goal win, including overtime and shootout wins.
Three-way regulation lines
A three-way line, also called a 60-minute line, is settled after regulation only. There are three outcomes: home win, away win or tie. Overtime and the shootout don't count.
| Result | Moneyline, home | Three-way, home |
|---|---|---|
| Home wins in regulation | Wins | Wins |
| Home wins in overtime | Wins | Loses (tie after 60 minutes) |
| Away wins in a shootout | Loses | Loses |
Because a team can lose a three-way bet without losing the game, its three-way price is longer than its moneyline. Compare the two as different bets, not as two prices for one bet.
When NHL lines move
- Starting goalies move hockey lines more than any other player. Teams often confirm them on game day.
- Back-to-back games: the second night often brings the backup goalie.
- Most nights have several games, and lines go up a day or two before.
NHL picks and odds on BettingPicks
Every game gets a pick on our NHL picks page: the market favorite on the moneyline, overtime included, at the best price among MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS. The NHL hub has the week's games and division leaders, and the NHL odds page shows each book's lines side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the puck line?
A hockey spread fixed at 1.5 goals. The favorite at -1.5 has to win by 2 or more; the underdog at +1.5 covers by losing by 1 or winning.
Does overtime count in NHL betting?
On the moneyline and puck line, yes, shootout included. Totals usually count a shootout win as one goal; check the book's rules. On a three-way regulation line, only the first 60 minutes count.
What is a three-way line in hockey?
A bet on the result after regulation with three outcomes: home win, away win or tie.
Why do NHL totals barely move?
Goals are rare, so a total of 5.5 to 6.5 (sometimes 6 or 7) covers most games. Books change the price on the over and under more often than the number.
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