NHL betting lines explained: puck line, moneyline and totals
Bahis okulu · Yayın tarihi · 5 dk okuma
Bu makale yalnızca İngilizce olarak mevcuttur.
Hockey is a low-scoring sport, and that changes how betting markets are built. In basketball a spread of a few points is routine, but in hockey a single goal is a big margin. That is why the NHL market is based on a fixed line of 1.5 goals, plus a moneyline and a total.
The moneyline
The moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game. In the NHL, a moneyline bet normally covers the whole game including overtime and a shootout, unless your provider states otherwise. Always check the rules.
- Favourites have negative American prices, for example -150: stake 150 to win 100.
- Underdogs have positive prices, for example +130: stake 100 to win 130.
Convert to implied probability to compare. -150 implies 150 / 250 = 60.0%. +130 implies 100 / 230 = 43.5%. The two add to 103.5%, so the margin is 3.5 points. Our odds converter does these conversions for you, and the idea is explained in the article on implied probability.
The puck line
The puck line is hockey's version of a point spread, and it is usually set at 1.5 goals.
- Favourite -1.5: the favourite must win by 2 or more goals.
- Underdog +1.5: the underdog wins the bet if it wins the game or loses by exactly 1 goal.
Because there is no whole-number line, there are no pushes on a standard puck line. Pricing adjusts instead. A favourite at -1.5 pays more than on the moneyline, for instance +180 compared with -150, because winning by two goals is harder than winning at all. The underdog at +1.5 pays less, for example -220, since it covers in many more situations.
Example: Team A is -150 on the moneyline and +180 on the puck line at -1.5. You stake 100 on the puck line. If Team A wins 4-2, you win 180. If Team A wins 3-2, you lose 100, even though your team won. A moneyline bet would have paid about 66.67 on a 100 stake in that same game.
How often do favourites cover?
Many NHL games are decided by a single goal, and a good share of those finish with an empty-net goal. This means favourites often win by one goal and fail to cover -1.5. Underdogs at +1.5 therefore win the bet more often than the moneyline suggests, which is exactly why they are priced at a heavy minus number. The price is not free money: it reflects that frequency.
The total
The total is the combined goals of both teams. Common NHL totals are 5.5 and 6, and 6.5 in high-scoring matchups.
- Over 5.5 wins if there are 6 or more goals.
- Under 5.5 wins at 5 or fewer.
- On a whole-number total such as 6, exactly 6 goals is a push and the stake is returned.
Totals are priced separately for each side, often around -110 on both, though in hockey they can lean further, for example over 5.5 at +105 and under at -125. Read the price, not just the line. See our article on over/under bets for the general principle.
Empty-net goals
In the final minutes of a close game, the trailing team often removes its goalie for an extra attacker. If the leading team scores into the open net, the game total rises by one and the margin widens from one goal to two.
This affects bets in two ways. A favourite leading by two late can turn a narrow cover into a safe one, while a one-goal lead may stay one goal. It also adds to the total: an under bet alive at 5 goals with two minutes left can lose to an empty-net goal.
Overtime and shootouts
Regular NHL games that are tied after 60 minutes go to a 5-minute overtime, and then to a shootout if still level. This matters for settlement.
- Moneyline: the winner of overtime or the shootout wins the bet.
- Puck line: an overtime or shootout win counts as winning by exactly 1 goal. So a favourite at -1.5 that wins in a shootout does not cover, and an underdog at +1.5 wins the bet.
- Totals: the shootout goal is added to the score for settlement purposes at many providers, but overtime goals count as normal goals. Rules differ, so confirm before betting.
Some providers also offer 60-minute lines, which are settled on the score after regulation only. A tied game at 60 minutes means a draw. These markets have three outcomes (home, draw, away) and different prices. Do not mix them up with the standard moneyline.
What affects hockey prices
- Goalie. Confirmed starters matter more in hockey than any single skater in most sports. A backup in net can shift a price noticeably.
- Back-to-backs and travel. Fatigue affects performance, particularly late in the season.
- Special teams. Power-play and penalty-kill strength influences scoring.
- Home ice. The home team chooses its matchups last.
For a wider view, browse our ice hockey section. To size stakes, try bankroll management.
Key takeaways
The moneyline picks the winner, the puck line sets a 1.5-goal margin, and the total covers combined goals. Empty-net goals and overtime or shootout rules change how bets settle, so read the market rules before you stake. Low scoring makes hockey more random than it looks, and no line makes a result certain.
Betting is for adults only (18+). Only stake money you can afford to lose, set limits before you start, and stop if it stops being fun. If gambling is causing you problems, contact a local support organisation.