How to Bet on Hockey in 2025 – Hockey Betting Guide

Hockey betting is one of the fastest-growing segments of the sports wagering industry.

As more gamblers learn how to bet on hockey, they become more attracted to the world’s fastest team sport.

The hockey regular season runs from October through mid-April, followed by two months of playoff games. Hockey betting is most popular for the playoffs because the NHL postseason is rightfully acclaimed as the best of any sport.

Hockey players perform amazing feats on skates, and the game's speed can’t be matched. Substitutions often occur “on the fly” as play continues.

Understanding Hockey Betting

When learning how to bet on hockey games, gamblers discover that the combination of speed and physicality makes the sport irresistible.

Hockey has a unique scoring system for players who get a point for a goal or an assist. In the standings, teams get two points for a win, one point for a regulation tie, and a bonus point if they win the game in overtime or a shootout.

Fights and body checks in which players are upended or slammed into the boards draw loud roars from crowds. Breakaways or odd-man rushes (3 on 2 or 2 on 1) also bring fans and gamblers out of their seats.

The Unique Nature of Hockey Betting

As is the case with football quarterbacks, the most prominent position in hockey is the goaltender.

Line matchups are important, especially for live betting. A tight checking line will often counter a top-scoring line. Home teams have the last line change, giving them a potential matchup edge.

National Hockey League games average a total of six goals per matchup, with many games under that total.

There is nothing like the breathtaking drama of overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where a series can instantly change.

Types of Hockey Bets

You will discover that there are a multitude of methods when you're learning how to bet on hockey games.

Options include the moneyline, puck line, over/under totals, props, futures, parlays, and live in-game betting. Most gamblers will use all these options at various times once they get exposure to a hockey betting guide and experience.

Moneyline Betting

The easiest wagering method to understand is the moneyline. This method of betting on hockey is simple. Gamblers pick the team they think will win the game by laying odds with the favorite or taking odds with the underdog.

An example of a moneyline would be Vegas Golden Knights -150 vs. Los Angeles Kings +120. Gamblers who pick Vegas would bet $150 to win $100. At the same time, those who bet on the Kings would wager $100 to win $120. The moneyline can get expensive for strong or publicly popular home favorites against a weak visiting opponent.

Puck Line Betting

The puck line works like a run line in baseball or the point spread in football.

An example of a puck line would be Colorado Avalanche -1.5, -175 vs. Chicago Blackhawks +1.5, +145. For Colorado to win the bet, they must win the game by two or more goals. For Chicago to win the wager, they must win the game outright or lose by one goal or less.

The puck line is an effective betting method to bring down the price of a power home favorite like Colorado, who would otherwise be a -470 favorite with the moneyline option.

Over/Under (Totals) Betting

Another popular betting option for gamblers is over/under wagering, also known as totals. With this wagering method, gamblers bet on whether the total final score of a game will go over or under a set number.

An example of a totals line would be Chicago Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche Over 6.5 -110, Under 6.5 -110. If the final score is 4-3, the combined seven goals scored would send the game over the total.

A good guide for hockey betting on totals is to consider each team's goaltenders and the respective playing styles of each club.

Prop Bets & Player Props

Prop bets used to be just for fun, but now they are often utilized by sharps more seriously.

An example of a props betting line is Connor McDavid 2+ -105. That line means that if Connor McDavid scores three points (goals + assists) or more, the bet would pay $105 on a $100 wager. High-scoring players like McDavid may have an alternative price of 1+ -475. In this case, the bet wins $100 on a $475 outlay if McDavid scores two or more points; however, if McDavid is shut out, the bettor would take on a heavy $475 loss.

Hockey Parlays

Hockey parlays are popular with sharps and the casual sector. With a parlay bet, gamblers combine several different bets into a single wager with the requirement that all the bets win for the parlay to pay. When a parlay wager wins, it pays at a higher rate than a single bet.

On the other hand, if just one bet within the parlay loses, the entire parlay wager loses, even if all other bets were winners.

Gamblers can combine moneyline, puck line, and over/under bets for their parlays. The potential for a big payoff for less of an outlay is the attraction of parlays.

Futures Betting

Futures betting can be for items, including which team will win the Stanley Cup or a conference championship. You can also get future odds for which player will be the scoring champion or most valuable player.

An example of a futures odds line is the Dallas Stars +600 to win the Stanley Cup. If a gambler bets on Dallas and the Stars win the Stanley Cup, he would win $600 on a $100 wager.

Gamblers can bet on futures before and during the season, as the odds will change every day.

Live Betting on Hockey

Nothing beats the rush of live in-game betting on hockey, but it is not for the faint of heart. Unlike football, with its breaks between plays, and baseball, with its pitch-by-pitch style of play, hockey has fewer stoppages for action.

Most live betting occurs when play stops for a penalty, score, injury, or goaltender change.

On a penalty, the shorthanded team may get odds on whether they will kill the penalty or even lose the game. Or, gamblers may bet on the team with the man advantage (power play) to score, win the game, or perhaps send the game over the total, etc.

Hockey Betting Strategies

Keeping it simple is always the best sports betting strategy, including for hockey.

A sound hockey betting guide is to never go over -150 on a moneyline bet. Also, it is wise to take quality underdogs or strong teams on the road, where they will have a lower price.

Finally, never bet too much on a single game.

Bankroll Management for Hockey Betting

The National Hockey League regular season is a marathon of 82 games per team, so there are plenty of wagering opportunities on most days. Therefore, patience and discipline are the keys to survival over the long seven-month slog of the regular season.

Common mistakes to avoid include chasing losses and betting too much of your bankroll on a single game. Additionally, laying -200 or more on a moneyline favorite can devastate a bankroll.

Upsets in hockey happen frequently, as even the best teams can be caught on a bad night.

Getting the Best Hockey Odds

At Prime Sportsbook, we realize that the hockey betting community is the most demanding of all.

We answer those demands with the most knowledgeable hockey oddsmakers in the industry. Our hockey lines and odds are the best available in the world.

NHL Betting Trends & Analytics

With goaltending such a crucial factor in hockey, gamblers must track trends and form for each goalie on a team. Also, it is important to know who the starting goaltender is before making a bet.

Trends can give you a matchup advantage for team power plays, penalty killing, goal scoring, goals allowed, home and away records, rest, and more.

Keep an eye on a rested home team vs. an opponent at the end of a long road trip, but don’t overpay for such scenarios. Also, a team may have a historic record of dominance against an opponent.