What is a Puck Line? Puck Line Bets Explained

Like run lines, puck lines are usually fixed at -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. This makes sense, as 1 or 2 goals decide most games.

In the simplest terms, if you take a team -1.5, they’ll need to win by 2 or more for your bet to cash—and if you take a team +1.5, they’ll need to stay within a goal for you to walk away a winner. Puck lines are a popular betting option, as they give you a little cushion when you back a ‘dog and better odds when you’re putting your money behind the favorite. 

Here's a look at the latest puck lines for NHL games:

So, hopefully, you’ve got a good sense of the basics for puck line betting. But before we delve into the finer details of this type of hockey betting, let’s recap the main takeaway:

With most (but not all) puck line bets:

• The favored team is given a -1.5 goal handicap
• The underdog is given a +1.5 goal advantage

Fixed Lines, Dynamic Odds

Let’s first talk about the odds for puck line bets. 

While the goal differentials may be fixed at plus or minus 1.5, you’ll see a wide spread of odds for either side of a puck line bet. You could see a team -1.5 or +1.5 with either positive or negative odds, depending on the matchup and the relative talent of the teams involved. 

We’ll get into this further down the page, so stay tuned.

Overtime & Puck Line Betting

Ah, overtime. The best friend of anyone who took the underdog with a puck line bet…and the death knell for any wager on the favored side of a puck line bet. 

When an NHL game gets to overtime, the first team to score wins, or if the game is tied after OT, the shootout winner gets credit for an extra “goal.” In either case, only one more tally is on the score sheet. 

So if a game is tied after regulation, all +1.5 bets are guaranteed to hit, and all -1.5 bets cannot possibly win.

You must carefully read the terms and conditions of your preferred NHL betting sites to see how they will honor overtime goals in puck line payouts.

Puck Lines Moving to -2.5/+2.5

Occasionally, if there’s a big talent gap or disparity in the two teams' records, the puck line will move by a goal in either direction. We saw this a couple of times last NHL season, notably when the San Jose Sharks were amid a rough stretch in terms of goal differential. 

These puck lines work the same as -1.5/+1.5 bets, but the game will need to be more of a blowout for the favorite to win and only somewhat competitive for the underdog to cover. (Note that we’ll cover alternate puck lines, which some online sportsbooks offer, later in the article.)

Just like moneyline bets, bettors will see that the odds for puck lines are set according to the relative quality of the two teams facing off. 

Yes, puck lines do quite a bit to equalize the odds, driving them towards even. But, in the eyes of the books, rarely will a team be exactly 1.5 goals better or worse than another team. (And there’s always the vig taking a bite out of the apple, too.) 

Here are a few of the most frequent scenarios to illustrate how the math can work:

Example 1: Fairly Even Matchup Between Favorite & Underdog

Moneyline Close to Even:

• Favorite -1.5: +190
• Underdog +1.5: -210

In this case, one team has to be the puck line favorite, but that team will have significant positive odds. On the other hand, the team getting 1.5 goals will have fairly significant negative odds.

Example 2: One Team is Clearly Favored Over the Other

Moneylines Are Widely Spread:

• Favorite -1.5: -110
• Underdog +1.5: -115

In cases like this, the handicap has equalized the odds, and the payout will be similar on both sides of the matchup. This doesn’t mean you won’t see adjustments one way or the other based on how money is flowing, injury news, or even roster shakeups. -130/+110, -125/+110, and -120/+100 would all be very reasonable puck lines.  

Example 3: One Team is Favored, But Not Hugely

Moneylines Are Spread, But Not Drastically:

• Favorite -1.5: +140
• Underdog +1.5: -165

Here, the puck line has essentially flipped the moneyline odds. The favored team isn’t considered enough of a favorite to make up for giving 1.5 goals, and the underdog is considered “too good” to be getting 1.5 goals at close to even odds. 

The result? A plus line for the favorite and negative odds for the ‘dog.

So, to summarize, puck lines do “level” the ice and the odds, but not as precisely as you might think. That’s why you’ll see a wide range of odds, despite that standard margin of 1.5. 

As with many hockey betting markets, there are many things to consider when putting your money down. 

Here are some of the variables that can make a big difference in a puck line bet going one way or the other:

Puck line betting is one of the most popular NHL markets that sportsbooks offer, and you can find puck lines at every major sportsbook, including in-game lines that change almost from shift to shift. 

As we mentioned, it can be a great equalizer for teams far apart in talent (and the standings) or a great way to shift the odds you get for an evenly matched tilt. Alternate puck lines are intriguing if you think a favorite will win handily, or a handy parlay piece (or conservative straight bet) if you want a multi-goal cushion for the side you’re picking.

However you use NHL puck lines, we hope you’ve got a better idea of how they work, what can shift the odds, and what factors you might want to consider when playing them. 

As always, bet responsibly, play within your limits, and have fun.