How to Bet Hockey

The following post explores the basic fundamentals of how to bet hockey.

Understanding how to interpret odds, spreads, and different types of potential wagers is essential for making NHL wagers.

Read: Hart Memorial Trophy Odds

Related: How to Bet Basketball

This post provides a high-level overview of hockey betting, covering key concepts such as point spreads, money lines, totals, and additional wager types to help you get started.

Here’s what you need to know.

Example

Here is an example of a hockey wager, let’s break it down.

• Away team is always listed on top. In this example, Chicago is the road team.

• Minus (-) next to the number in the money line indicates the favorite; the plus (+) indicates the underdog.

• Bet # is most commonly referred to when verbally placing your wager at the sportsbook.

Wager Types

• Spread – When betting the point spread (aka line), the favorite must win by a stipulated number of goals. This means either laying 1.5 goals on the favorite or getting 1.5 goals on the underdog. In this example, Vegas (-1.5 +175) is the favorite and must win the game by 2 goals (or more) to cover the spread

• Total – This refers to the total number of combined goals scored (i.e. over/under). If the game lands exactly on the set number, the wager is considered a push and those bets are refunded.

• Money Line – This is a bet on which team will win a game (regardless of score). Chicago is a +140 money line underdog. This means a $100 wager on Chicago money line wins $140 (collect $240 total). Conversely, a $160 wager on Vegas money line wins $100 (collect $260 total).

Additional Wagers

Screenshot: Hockey Wager Options on a Mobile App

• Period Spread – A period spread allows for wagers on the outcome of a specific period (rather than the entire game). Many sportsbooks offer a 1st period line, which refers to the outcome of only the first period. Likewise, in-game period spreads are set for the 2nd and 3rd period of the game.

• Futures – Futures in hockey are for predicting division winners, conference winners, and Stanley Cup champs. Total games won (O/U wins) is another popular futures wager offered at the beginning of the season.

• Live – Live wagering is a popular option for making in-game bets using your sportsbook’s mobile application (check availability). Live wagers offer adjusted goal spreads, over/under, and more based on the live score.

• Parlay – A parlay combines several teams into one bet. In a parlay, all wagers must win, or else the bet is a loser. As many as 10 teams (or more) may be used in a parlay. Totals (O/U goals) may be included in parlays.

• Props – A “proposition bet” is like a side-bet. Common prop bets in hockey include goals scored, assists, saves, and more. Prop bets offered vary greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook.