How To Bet On Hockey & NHL Betting Guide

Below is a complete guide on how to bet on the NHL. You’ll find information on hockey bets such as moneylines, puck lines, totals, player props, and futures. There are also full details on how to sign up at an online sportsbook and wager on the NHL.

How to bet on hockey games

Once you’ve chosen an NHL sportsbook, here is a rundown of the most popular wagering options:

Puck line

The puck line bet is the hockey equivalent of a point spread wager. You choose from the favorite minus the listed number of goals or the underdog plus that number. 

• Florida Panthers +1.5 (-295)
• New York Rangers -1.5 (+235)

The standard puck line is 1.5 goals. The odds will vary dramatically compared to spread bets, which are typically at or around -110 on both sides. In our example above, the Rangers are -1.5 favorites on the puck line. To cover, they have to win the game by at least two goals. The underdog Panthers can cover by losing by a single goal or by winning the game outright.  

Moneyline

For a moneyline bet, you simply pick which team you think will win the game. It’s a straightforward wager that provides a clear result without worrying about the final margin of victory. 

• Edmonton Oilers +106
• Dallas Stars -128 

The NHL odds will be negative for the favorite on the moneyline and positive for the underdog. The tighter the range between the numbers, the less difference the sportsbook sees between the two teams. A much larger span indicates that the book believes the favorite has a sizable advantage.

Over/under

The over/under bet involves wagering on the total number of goals in the game. For these bets, aka totals, sportsbooks will set a line for bettors to decide on: 

• Over 5.5 (-110)
• Under 5.5 (-110)

If you bet on the game having a total of over 5.5 goals, you need the teams to combine for six or more goals to win your wager. Meanwhile, under bettors win if the final tally is five or fewer. Sportsbooks commonly set NHL over/under lines at 5.5, but you will also find outliers such as 5.0 or 6.5.   

Win in regulation

When NHL games are tied at the end of three periods, the teams will move on to overtime. You can place wagers on the result of the game at the end of regulation time. 

• Florida Panthers +140
• Tie +340
• New York Rangers +140  

The name of the bet can vary by sportsbook, but many list it as a 60-minute line. You select which of the two teams you think will win during regular time or choose a tie if you expect overtime to happen.  

Parlays

You can group multiple wagers together on the same betting slip to create a parlay. Each individual wager forms a leg of the parlay. 

• Two-team NHL moneyline parlay
• Rangers -110 over Panthers
• Oilers +106 over Stars
• Total parlay odds: +293

To win a parlay, you have to get each leg correct. The profit potential rises with each leg that you add to the slip, but so does the overall difficulty of winning. There are also same-game parlays where all of the wagers you combine must be from a single game. For example, you could place an SGP on a team to win plus a player on that team to score a goal.  

Betting on NHL players

Player props

A prop is essentially a side wager on something that may happen during the game. As you might expect, player props are wagers on the accomplishments of those scheduled to play in the matchup. 

You’ll find NHL player props for both skaters and goalies. There are numerous categories, including goals scored and the number of saves made. You can also tie together multiple player props into a parlay or same-game parlay. The options and odds can vary by sportsbook, so line shopping and comparing what’s available can be worthwhile. 

Goal scorers

Goals are a huge highlight for NHL games, and also one of the most popular options among prop bettors. You can wager on a player to score a goal at any time in the game as well as more specific wagers such as a player to score the first or last goal of the game. Here’s an example:

• Anytime goal scorer — Panthers vs. Rangers
• Sam Reinhart +155
• Artemi Panarin +170
• Matthew Tkachuk +195
• Chris Kreider +200
• Carter Verhaeghe +210
• Mika Zibanejad +230

Players with lower odds are those whom the sportsbook has deemed the favorites. The odds numbers will continue to climb the further you go down the depth chart. For instance, the above game had lines for 33 players. The odds for 18 of those players were +500 or greater. 

Player to score a point

Each goal or assist that a player collects results in a point for that player. There are multiple ways to bet on this. The options can vary, but sportsbooks tend to have a good assortment to choose from: 

• Over/under line for a player’s total points
• Player to record one or more points
• Player to record two or more points
• Player to record three or more points

You’ll also find bets specifically on the number of assists for each player. There are also props available for the power play. You can bet on a player to score a goal or record an assist when his team has the advantage due to an opponent’s penalty.   

Shots on goal

Player shots on goal are another key NHL stat. Just like goals and points, sportsbooks offer a variety of bets to choose from.

• Over/under on total player shots
• Player to record one shot, two or more shots, etc. 
• Who will have the most shots on goal for the game 

The definition of a shot on goal is a shot that either finds its way into the net or that the goalie stops. Shots that miss the net entirely or hit the post or crossbar don’t count. 

Goalie saves

While the majority of NHL player props involve the accomplishments of skaters, there are options for goalies, as well. The top such bet is for goalie saves, as in how many times the goaltender directly prevents the puck from going into the net. 

• Igor Shesterkin — 60 minute total saves
• Over 28.5 (-130)
• Under 28.5 (-102)

Sportsbooks will also offer alternate lines for this wager and adjust the odds accordingly. Additional goalie props include over/under bets on the total goals and whether a goalie will record a shutout. 

How to bet on hockey futures

Stanley Cup winner

A futures bet is a season-long wager that can provide bettors with additional rooting interest as the campaign plays out. For the NHL, betting on the Stanley Cup winner tends to be the most popular option. 

• Stanley Cup winner 
• Florida Panthers +230
• Dallas Stars +240
• Edmonton Oilers +270
• New York Rangers +380

Sportsbooks will release odds for teams to win the next Stanley Cup over the offseason. The lines will move and evolve in response to betting action and other developments. When you place your wager, you’ll be locked in at whatever the odds were at that time. 

Conference winners

The NHL consists of two conferences — Eastern and Western — with 16 teams each. You can also bet on the winner of each conference. Again, sportsbooks will release odds for every team during the offseason. To win, you must successfully pick the team that wins its conference and advances to play for the Stanley Cup. 

• Western Conference winner 
• Dallas Stars -125
• Edmonton Oilers +105

Team totals 

Compared to other major sports, the NHL is unique in its approach to the standings. Teams receive points based on how they fare in games: two points for a win in regulation, one point for an overtime or shootout defeat, and no points for a loss in regulation. Sportsbooks may offer over/under bets for total team wins or total team points for the season. 

• Total points — Toronto Maple Leafs
• Over 101 (-110)
• Under 101 (-110)  

To make the playoffs

At the conclusion of the regular season, eight teams from each conference advance to the NHL playoffs. Sportsbooks will have odds on which teams will claim spots. As the season moves along, odds may rise or fall in response to team performance. Once a team is out of contention or has clinched a spot, sportsbooks will remove it from the board. 

• Vegas Golden Knights — to make playoffs
• Yes -220 
• No +180

Award winners

There are multiple awards for players to strive for in the NHL, and betting lines are available for several of them. The top honors are the Hart Trophy, which is the MVP of the league, and the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the top goaltender. Other awards include the Norris Trophy (best defenseman), Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year), and Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the playoffs). 

• Conn Smythe Trophy — position of winner
• Forward -186
• Defenseman +900
• Goalie +200

How do I read hockey lines?

Click on the NHL or hockey tab at an online sportsbook to view the lines for available games. Below is an example from DraftKings for an upcoming matchup.  

Each sportsbook will list the three main betting lines for each contest. Here’s how they work: 

• Puck line: Due to the low-scoring nature of NHL games, the standard puck line is 1.5 goals. You can bet on a team minus or plus the puck line, with odds for both options. In this example, you can bet on the Panthers -1.5 at odds of +230 or the Rangers +1.5 at odds of -285. 
• Total: This is the over/under bet on how many goals both teams will combine to score in the game. Sportsbooks set the line for each contest. A common line for hockey games is 5.5, but you’ll occasionally see other options, such as 6.5. Next to the line are the odds for the bet. In this case, there are matching odds of -110 for both over and under. 
• Moneyline: You bet on which team you think will win the game. There are odds for both choices: Panthers -115 and Rangers -105. The line for this game suggests that the book views this as a close matchup. Often, there’s a clear favorite with negative odds and an underdog with positive odds.      

NHL betting strategies

The NHL is one of the big four sports in North America, along with the NFL, the NBA, and Major League Baseball. It’s a popular league that sportsbooks feature prominently. There are plenty of betting approaches as a result. Here are some common ones:

• Recent play: Momentum can quickly shift during the course of an NHL game. The same holds true for the season as a whole. Teams will go through hot and cold streaks. Beyond overall records, take a look at how teams have fared in their last five or 10 games. For example, a club with a superior record may be on a downswing. 
• Impact of schedule: The NHL season is a lengthy one, with each team playing 82 games. At times, it can be particularly hectic for individual teams. A squad may be playing on back-to-back nights, or it may have several games in a short time frame. Meanwhile, an opponent may be on a softer stretch in which it’s had more time to rest and prepare.  
• Home vs. away: Some teams play particularly well on home ice, while others may do better on the road. As you examine a matchup, make note of each team’s record in this particular situation and look for potential matchup advantages. 
• Style of play: NHL teams can have varying styles. Some may play at a fast pace, while others are more geared toward low-scoring defensive battles. Teams can struggle or excel depending on their opponent’s style. You can research the recent series history for perspective on what may be in store.        

Steps to betting on hockey online

1. Select a betting site that appeals to you. During the season, the NHL will be a prominent option at all of the top sportsbooks. 
2. Follow the prompts to sign up for an account. When you’re ready to bet, remember to gamble responsibly. 
3. After you’ve created an account, pick one of the available deposit methods to add money to it. Common options in legal sports betting states include PayPal and online banking. 
4. Once you have funds to wager with, check out the latest NHL odds and decide what you want to wager on. 
5. Click the odds for your selection to add it to your betting slip. Remember to apply any welcome bonuses or promos. Review your selections, confirm that everything is correct, and click to place your bet. 

Betting on NHL games — where is it legal?

You can bet on the NHL in any state where online sports betting is legal. You’ll find betting lines for all of the upcoming games without issue. Many sportsbooks also feature a wide assortment of NHL props and futures. 

Upcoming NHL dates

The NHL season continues with the following on tap in 2024:

• June 17: End of playoffs (latest)
• June 28-29: 2024 NHL draft

Hockey betting FAQ