The moneyline isn’t always the best way to bet on a hockey game. Heavy favorites force you to risk a lot to win a little, while some underdogs may not quite have the punch to cash your ticket. Enter the puck line, hockey’s version of the point spread.
Hockey puck lines offer a more nuanced (yet still simple) way to wager on the NHL, allowing you to grab a better price on favorites or profit on underdogs even when they lose by a narrow one-goal margin.
Whether you’re making your first hockey bet or regularly wager on NHL games, here’s everything you need to confidently add the puck line to your playbook.
What is a
puck line bet?
At its core, puck line betting is spread betting, but with a spread that is consistently set at -1.5 goals for the favorite and +1.5 goals for the underdog. This type of wager isn’t necessarily about who wins, but rather by how much:
- Puck line favorites (-1.5): Bets win only if the team wins by two or more goals.
- Puck line underdogs (+1.5): Bets win if they win the game outright OR lose by a single goal.
Consider a matchup between the Florida Panthers (-1.5) and the Chicago Blackhawks (+1.5). If Florida wins 4-2, they have covered the spread. If they win 3-2, they fail to cover, and bets on the Blackhawks +1.5 are winners even though Chicago heads home with a loss.
Why are hockey puck lines set at 1.5 goals?
Hockey uses a standard 1.5-goal spread because of the sport’s low-scoring nature. This margin often creates a fitting balance for hockey bettors, especially when the game is a significant mismatch. It also more closely mirrors how NHL games actually land:
- League notes show that roughly three-quarters of games finish either with a one-goal margin or a two-goal margin, a pattern observed at the 2022–23 quarter mark and again in 2024–25 league updates.
- Meanwhile, empty-net scoring itself has become an increasingly meaningful slice of offense as coaches have become quicker to pull their goalies when trailing.
- Through the first quarter of 2024-25, about 7% of all goals were scored into an empty net. That’s roughly one out of every 14 scores, which helps explain why seemingly tight games so often finish with a two-goal margin.
Additionally, the standard 1.5-goal spread makes puck line betting easy to follow. Although there will be some cases where a puck line might be set at 2.5 goals in a total mismatch, you won’t need to regularly analyze different spreads and key numbers like you would in other sports.
How to read puck line odds
Reading puck line odds requires an understanding of both the spread and how traditional moneylines pay out. The favorite shows a negative spread (-1.5) but typically offers positive odds, while the underdog shows a positive spread (+1.5) with negative odds. The puck line odds, which are displayed in parentheses to the side of the spread, inform the bettor of their potential payout just like moneyline odds would.
Here’s a puck line example with odds:
- Panthers -1.5 (+115): A $100 bet would profit $115 if the Panthers win by 2+ goals
- Lightning +1.5 (-145): You would need to bet $145 to profit $100 if the Lightning win the game outright or lose by exactly 1 goal
Puck line vs. moneyline
The true impact of the puck line becomes apparent when the moneyline and puck line are compared side by side.
While a heavy favorite on the moneyline might offer a prohibitively low payout, the puck line demands a more dominant victory, repricing the odds and payout accordingly.
Moneyline underdog vs. puck line underdog
- Flames ML (+170) / Flames +1.5 (-145)
A moneyline bet on the underdog here profits $170 on a $100 wager. You can also opt to take the puck line, allowing your bet to win even if they lose by one goal. The tradeoff is in the odds and payout: the 1.5-goal insurance means that same $100 wager will only return $67.97 in profit.
Moneyline favorite vs. puck line favorite
- Oilers ML (-220) / Oilers -1.5 (+115)
Here, the puck line offers more than two times the profit of a moneyline wager on the same team, but the Oilers would have to win by 2 goals to cash. This creates a decision point: are you willing to sacrifice 1.5 goals for the larger return?
Neither path is inherently “better.” Over time, both are priced with vig. The edge comes from matching price to game script.
This means you need to think about how teams win or lose: do they generate volume and push pace, or sit in structure and choke off chances? Are they comfortable extending leads, or do they shut it down and invite a late sweat? Those habits matter more on the puck line than they do on the moneyline.
When should I bet the moneyline or the puck line?
Ultimately, choosing between puck line and moneyline bets depends on the game situation and your risk tolerance. Below is a quick cheat sheet to help you with the process:
Moneyline (pick the winner): Best when you like a team to win but expect a close game. Any win counts, including OT/shootout.
Puck lines (lay or take 1.5 goals):
- If you see a favorite with the puck possession, finishing talent, and matchup edges to create separation, or you expect the trailing coach to pull the goalie early, then -1.5 can make more sense than paying a steep moneyline.
- On the flip side, if you like an underdog to keep it close but not necessarily win, +1.5 leverages that read without asking them to finish the upset.
Alternate puck lines and advanced strategies
In addition to the usual 1.5-goal puck line, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook also offers alternate puck lines to give players more flexibility. You’ll be able to choose from options including +2.5 goals, -5.5 goals and everything in between.
Alternate puck lines
Alternate puck lines allow you to adjust the spread in exchange for different odds. If you’re highly confident that a powerhouse team will dominate, you can take them at -2.5 for a significantly higher payout. Conversely, if you want to back the underdog but further hedge against an empty netter, taking them at +2.5 provides further cushion but at drastically reduced odds.
Period puck lines
The puck line can also be applied to a single period, typically with a -0.5/+0.5 spread. This is a tool bettors can use to target specific team tendencies. If a team is known for aggressive, fast starts, a 1st Period -0.5 wager can be more profitable than their full-game odds. It can also be used to fade teams that historically start slow. A bet on the +0.5 side means the underdog just needs to finish the period in a draw, or simply win it outright.
Reverse puck lines
You’ll also see the reverse puck line, which flips the script and makes the underdog -1.5. That’s a contrarian play: you’re not just calling an upset, but you’re calling a multi-goal upset. It won’t come up often, but it’s a legitimate way to target a mispriced favorite you have reason to believe can unravel.
Live puck line betting (in-game)
In-game betting is where the puck line gets especially interesting. If a favorite goes down 1-0 early, the live market will reshape quickly; prices on their -1.5 puck line improve, and in extreme starts you’ll sometimes find +2.5 offered on the pregame underdog. Current score, time remaining, penalties, and on-ice matchups all feed this number.
Puck lines in parlays and SGPs
Puck lines can be combined with other wagers in parlays or Same Game Parlays (SGPs). A common strategy is to correlate bets. For instance, if you expect a favorite to win in a high-scoring affair, you might parlay their -1.5 puck line with the game’s over and some “over” player props from that same team. The success of one outcome increases the probability of the other, creating a logical SGP with an amplified payout.
How to bet the puck line at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook’s interface presents NHL games with three core markets displayed front and center: spread (puck line), total (over/under), and winner (moneyline). Make note that you won’t actually see the words “puck line” or “moneyline,” but instead “spread” and “winner.”
This layout allows players to efficiently compare odds and identify value across the primary bet types before locking in any wagers.
Just like in our earlier examples, you’ll be able to compare the moneyline and puck line examples side by side. Once you’ve made a decision, simply click on your preferred bet to add it to your bet slip.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Step 1: Find your game. Browse the hockey schedule or search for specific teams on the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app.
- Step 2: Select puck line by clicking on the “spread” for your chosen side.
- Step 3: Input your desired bet amount in the bet slip.
- Step 4: Review all of the details and confirm your wager.
When the puck drops, puck lines don’t go away. As the game unfolds, live puck lines remain available, and their odds adjust in real time based on score, time remaining, and game flow, creating strategic opportunities for in-game wagers.
As an added benefit, all wagers placed on the platform contribute to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook’s weekly rewards program, Legendary Reward Drops. Simply place bets on the NHL to boost your haul each and every Thursday.
On top of that, all bets placed at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook will also earn players Unity Points that can be redeemed online or in-person at all participating Hard Rock Hotels, Cafes, Casinos, Rock Shops and more.
Bottom line: Should I bet the puck line?
The puck line demands more from a bettor than a simple moneyline wager. It requires an opinion not just on the winner, but on the script of the game itself. It forces you to consider offensive efficiency, defensive solidity, and the looming possibility of a last-minute empty-netter.
Each puck line comes with a tradeoff and there’s no one-size-fits-all rule that tells you when to choose the puck line over the moneyline, making the decision to bet the puck line more of an art than it is a science.
For players who do their homework, it’s a fundamental tool for extracting value from the nightly NHL slate. For other bettors, the puck line is a great way to simply make lopsided games more exciting and your favorite teams more affordable.
FAQ about puck line betting
Check out some of the more common questions when it comes to betting on puck lines:
Can I parlay puck line bets?
Yes, you can! Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook allows players to parlay multiple puck lines into a single wager. You can even add other markets such as totals, player props and more.
Do puck line bets include overtime and shootouts?
Yes, they do. Only markets that are labeled as regulation/60-minute/3-way don’t involve overtime or shootouts. But remember, the most a team can win by in OT is one goal, even via shootout.
Are puck line odds different for playoff games compared to the regular season?
Not necessarily, however, you’ll often see tighter puck line odds during the playoffs since teams are better and more closely matched.
Can you cash out a puck line bet before the game ends?
Yes, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lets you cash out select puck line bets in real time, giving you the power to lock in a win or cut your losses before the game concludes.
Which states can bet on puck lines?
All active Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook states offer players action on puck lines. These states include:
- Arizona sports betting
- Colorado sports betting
- Florida sports betting
- Illinois sports betting
- Indiana sports betting
- New Jersey sports betting
- Ohio sports betting
- Tennessee sports betting
- Virginia sports betting
Additionally, keep in mind that Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is the sole legal operator of sports betting in Florida. If you’re looking to bet on NHL games in the Sunshine State, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is the best and only choice.
How do empty net goals impact puck line bets?
Empty netters are the wild card when it comes to puck line betting. Late-game scores with the goalie pulled can flip your -1.5 or +1.5 bet from heartbreak to hero in the final seconds.
