Hockey is incredibly popular in Canada and across North America. Nothing can beat the high-octane exhilaration of watching teams like the Denver Nuggets or Toronto Maple Leafs. NHL betting is packed with thrilling options, but don’t forget about AHL betting either. Many punters enjoy finding the next gems ready to advance into the NHL Entry Draft.
There are several different types of bet options for ice hockey. These are largely similar to other sports like football or soccer. However, one key difference is the distinction between Regulation Time Betting and Full Game Betting. Bettors will often be able to choose between them. Regulation Time Betting includes draws, whereas Full Game Betting covers overtime and shootout victories.
NHL and AHL betting is massively popular, but other things to look out for are IIHF odds and betting on other European hockey leagues. Keep reading for an overview of the different bet types and odds.
Hockey Betting Odds & Lines
To have the most fun and best chances of winning hockey bets, you need to know how things work. We’ll explain the most popular options below:
Game Lines
Also known as a Puckline bet, betting on Game Lines during hockey is similar to Handicap bets elsewhere. Generally, the favourite has -1.5 handicap, while the underdog is given +1.5. The favourite needs to win by more than one goal to beat the handicap or “puckline”.
Over/Under
Over/Under bets are straightforward wagers on the total number of goals scored during a hockey match. They work in the same way as in other sports and are one of the most popular hockey bets. In most cases the line is 5.5 goals, so you’ll bet on whether you think the total number of goals scored by both teams will be “over” or “under”.
3-Way Game Lines
3-Way Game Line bets use the same mechanic as normal Game Lines. The main difference is that ties are also accounted for. Instead of the usual +1.5 or -1.5 handicaps, 3-Way Game Lines are set at +1 and -1. As a result, bettors can also bet on a tie (meaning the favourite only wins by one goal). 3-Way Game Line odds tend to be quite good, so many punters prefer this type of hockey bet.
3-Way Over/Under
3-Way Over/Under bets are similar to normal Over/Under bets, but here the puckline will be set at a whole number. Again, this opens the possibility of a tie. Bettors can therefore bet “over”, “under”, or “tie”.
Parlay
Parlay bets are some of the most exciting hockey betting options. Bettors can predict the outcome of several hockey matches, with each correct prediction boosting your total winnings. Beware, because only one wrong prediction will mean the entire bet fails.
