How to bet on hockey
You’re a hockey bettor who lives on the moneyline and doesn’t know what the puckline is all about? Or maybe you’ve never even heard of the puckline? To help you out we’re going to deliver explanation of those hockey betting types and we’ll also break down the wall on betting hockey totals and futures
Moneyline
A moneyline wager is one of the simplest bets out there. All you have to do is pick the winner of the game straight-up. There are no spreads to cover or anything like that, you just have to pick the winner. Where bettors sometime get tripped up with moneyline betting is the odds associated with the bet. Because you’re picking the winner without a spread there is a money cost associated with each side. Here’s how an NHL moneyline would look at an online sportsbook:
Colorado Avalanche +175
San Jose Sharks -220
In this example the Sharks are the favorite while the Avalanche are the underdog. You can tell which team is the favorite by who has been given minus odds. That means of course the underdog is given plus odds. Here if you were to bet on the heavily favored Sharks you would have to bet $220 to win $100 profit. Since San Jose is favored and expected to win you must risk more for less reward when betting on them. If you were to bet on the underdog Avalanche at +175 you would win $175 profit on a $100 bet. Since the Avalanche are expected to lose a bet on them has more risk in it already so you are rewarded with the potential for more profit.
Puckline
If you can figure out the moneyline then you’re already half way there to figure out the puckline. The difference between the moneyline and the puckline is the addition of a 1.5-goal spread to the moneyline favorite. The addition of this spread has a major effect on the odds and payouts. To show this difference let’s look at the game from moneyline example above on the puckline
Colorado Avalanche +1.5 (-165)
San Jose Sharks -1.5 (+135)
The addition of the 1.5-point spread to the Sharks has complete changed the payouts. Now a winning bet on San Jose would pay $135 profit on a $100 bet. However, winning a bet on the Sharks isn’t as easy as San Jose simply winning the game anymore. To win a puckline bet on the Sharks they must win the game by at least two goals to cover the 1.5-goal spread. Basically the Sharks are starting the game trailing the Avalanche by 1.5 goals, so to beat the spread they must beat Colorado by two goals.
So, if the game ends San Jose up 4-1 a puckline wager on the Sharks would be a winner. But, if San Jose won 4-3 a this puckline wager would be a loser. If you were to wager on the Avalanche +1.5 you can win you wager even if Colorado loses the game. To cover the 1.5-goal spread the Avalanche only have to lose by fewer than two goals. So, in a game with a one-goal outcome, such as the 4-3 score, a bet on Colorado would be a winner.
Totals
When you’re betting the totals, or over/under as it is also commonly known, the winner of the game does not matter. The final score matters, but not who scored the most goals. You’re not betting on the winner of the game, you’re betting on the number of goals scored.
When you’re betting the total you’re given a number by the sportsbook which is known as the total. Your job is to decide whether the total number of goals scored in the game will go Over or Under this number.
For example, the Flyers and playing the Canadiens and the book has set the total at 5.5. Will the total number of goals be over or under 5.5? If the final score ends up Rangers 3, Canadiens 2 then a bet on the Under would be a winner since 3+2 = 5, which is Under 5.5. If the final score was Rangers 4, Canadiens 2 then a bet on the Over would be a winner since 4+2=6, which is Over 5.5.
Futures
A hockey futures bet is simply a wager on a event some time in the future. Popular futures bets on the NHL include the Stanley Cup winner, the Hart Trophy winner or the Calder Trophy winner. Many of these wager have to be placed before the season begins, but futures bet on the Stanley Cup winner are usually available at most books throughout the season, but the odds are also being updated.
The key to futures betting is getting the best odds you can on your pick. This can mean scouring different sportsbooks to find the best potential payouts, or trying to get in on a team before the oddsmakers adjust their odds. Last year’s Stanely Cup champion, the Boston Bruins began the season as a 16/1 underdog to hoist the Cup. Months later when the puck was being dropped on the playoffs the Bruins were listed at 9/1. When you strike can make a big difference when you’re betting hockey futures.
