The NHL is among the major North American professional sports leagues and popular with bettors. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be easy to misread NHL betting lines and get confused. The last thing you want when betting on NHL odds is to be confused.
On this page, we will discuss how to comprehend NHL odds, the many types of NHL betting markets, and so much more!
How to Read NHL Odds
The odds listed with National Hockey League betting markets consist of a three-digit number preceded by a plus or minus sign. They tell bettors how much they can win and how likely they are to win. When it comes to moneylines, outcomes with a minus sign are considered the underdog, while those with a plus sign are considered the betting favorite.
Let’s say you decide to bet on the favorite to win, and its sports betting odds are -110. That means bettors will need to risk $110 to win $100. But if you bet on the underdog to win at +110, you can win $110 if you risk $100.
Where are the Best NHL Odds?
You can use the NHL odds tool show above to find the best hockey odds from hockey sportsbooks. This page compares the odds across sportsbooks for every NHL moneyline, puck line and game total (or over/under) every day of the current hockey season and through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Right now we compare NHL odds from seven major sportsbooks. Sign up with the bonus codes below to begin betting on hockey today with a legal online sportsbook:
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Popular Types of NHL Betting Odds
In this section, we will introduce you to many of the popular types of NHL betting markets and their corresponding odds:
NHL Live Odds and Live Streaming
Live NHL odds refer to the odds for betting markets that become available as a game plays out. Options will include puck lines, moneylines, and totals for the game, half, and quarter, along with a selection of player, team, and game props. The best odds will adjust as a game unfolds.
NHL Spreads
National Hockey League betting lines consist of a puck line (often -1.5 or +1.5) rather than a point spread, but it is essentially the same thing. Depending on which market you bet on, you must add or subtract the puck line from the team's final score. If your team has a higher score after the adjustment, your team wins!
NHL Moneyline Bets
If you'd prefer to bet on who will win the game outright (no puck line), bet the moneyline. To compensate for one team's competitive advantage over the other, bettors can win more by putting money down on an underdog.
So, if the Toronto Maple Leafs moneyline is -105, they are the favorite. You'll need to bet $105 to win $100. At +125, the New York Rangers are the underdog, meaning you can win $125 if you bet $100 on them.
NHL Player Props
Player props are wagers not made on the outcome of a game but on a player's performance during a given part. For instance, you might bet that Adam Fox will score at any point during the game, a wager that might come with +500 odds. Another common player prop is taking the over or under on a player's total shots on goal.
You can stay on top of player injuries, news, and more with our NHL starting lineups tool — useful no matter what kind of hockey odds and markets you're betting on.
NHL Parlay Bets
Parlays allow bettors to combine multiple bets (legs) from several games or the same game into one wager. You must win each leg for your parlay or same-game parlay to win. Lose one, and you lose the bet. The more legs your same game parlays or parlays have, the bigger your chance of losing but the more you can win.
NHL Futures Odds
Futures are bets on long-term outcomes that play out across, say, an entire season. Popular futures bets in the NHL include who will win the Stanley Cup and who will win the Calder trophy.
Odds consist of three digits preceded by a plus or minus sign. With futures, it is common for all teams to open with plus odds since it's so hard to accurately predict the outcome so far in advance. As the season progresses, one team could stand out so much that it is seen as a "heavy favorite" and will have minus odds.
If you want to try your hand at DFS hockey, our NHL lineup optimizer can help you get started.
Understanding NHL Odds Line Movement
Once the opening NHL betting line gets posted, it may move depending on how the public bets. If the public hammers one side of a wager, mobile sportsbooks adjust the odds to make the other side more enticing for bettors. Lines can also move if a team's superstar falls with an injury leading up to a game.
Betting on Top NHL Events
If you like to bet on any sport, there are certain events you'll have more interest in than others—and the NHL is no different.
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup odds are often available for the next season before the current champion gets crowned. As the offseason progresses, odds can change if a team becomes popular enough with the public.
Throughout the regular season and NHL playoffs, odds will adjust according to how well teams play.
All-Star Weekend
If there's an event, there will be a betting line for it, and the All-Star Weekend is no different. Like most all-star games, though, it won't be too competitive.
Playoffs
Bettors can bet on every postseason game and various props, such as which team will win a series, the total number of games in a series, the correct score for the series, etc. Sportsbooks will also have an extensive menu of player props for each game and series.
Season Opening Matchups
Season openers are not always the best games, but they are the first chance to bet on competitive NHL games since the previous season ended.
Player Awards
Player awards, like the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the postseason), Hart (regular season MVP), Vezina Cup (best goaltender), Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie), etc., are popular futures bets.
How to Bet on National Hockey League Games
Betting on NHL games is not difficult, but you need to follow a few simple steps before putting money down.
1. Create an Account
To open an account with a sportsbook, follow these steps:
- Look for the best odds available for your desired market.
- Download the app of that sportsbook.
- On the sportsbook's home page, there will usually be a button labeled "Sign Up" or "Join Now." Click on it.
- Follow the prompts and provide the sportsbook with the requested information to complete the registration process.
2. Verify Identity
Often, with the help of a third-party provider, sportsbooks will verify your identity by asking for some or all of the following information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your SSN
- Address
- Photo ID
The third party will use software that checks public records to make sure you are who you say you are.
3. Deposit Funds
Before you can place a wager, you will need to deposit funds into your account. To do so, choose one of the banking methods offered by your sportsbook and deposit at least the minimum required amount. Common banking methods include:
- Debit/credit cards
- Online banking
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Instant bank transfer
- Wire transfer
4. Place First Bet
Now that you've made a deposit, it is time to place your first bet:
- Open the app and sign into your account.
- Navigate to the page that contains the market you wish to bet on.
- Click on that market.
- Enter how much you wish to bet in the betting slip (you must have funds available).
- Click "Submit" to place your bet.
Frequently Asked Questions About NHL Odds
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions that bettors have about NHL odds and betting:
How do you read NHL odds?
NHL odds are listed as a three-digit number preceded by a plus sign (underdog) or a minus sign (betting favorite). If you bet on the underdog, the number listed will tell you how much you'll win with a $100 wager. But if you bet on the favorite, the number will tell you how much you'll need to bet to win $100.
What is a puck line?
A puck line is the hockey equivalent of a point spread or run line. You are betting on a team to win by more than that number or lose by less. A common puck line is +1.5 or -1.5.
What does +1.5 mean in the NHL?
If you see +1.5 next to a team on a sportsbook, you're looking at a puck line. This number indicates that the team is expected to lose within a margin of 1.5 goals. If you bet on this underdog, they must lose by less than two goals for you to win your bet.