NHL Odds Today at Prime Sportsbook: Get the Best NHL Betting Lines and Live Odds

The National Hockey League is the most popular in the world, drawing most of the wagering action.

32 NHL teams play 82 regular-season games, followed by the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The regular season runs from October through April, with the playoffs from April through mid-June.

Once a niche sport, the NHL has become mainstream, so there has never been more action for NHL betting lines.

How NHL Betting Odds Work

NHL Moneyline Betting Example:

On the moneyline, gamblers pick the winner of a match and lay hockey odds on the favorite or take odds on the underdog. Moneyline NHL spreads are so popular because of the simplicity of choosing a straight-up winner with no point spreads involved.

You should monitor both teams' recent matchup form, as well as probable goaltenders. Player injuries can significantly affect price and chance, and home and road ice performance records are also critically important.

NHL Puck Line Betting Example:

Like the baseball run line, the puck line is a small point spread but with the advantage of less expensive odds than the moneyline. Gamblers like the puck line when they want to take a heavy moneyline favorite but don’t want to lay huge odds.

On the other hand, some gamblers like to take the puck line underdog in a close matchup because they believe in the likelihood of a 1-goal game that could go either way. Thus, if the puck line underdog loses a game 3-2 at +1.5 goals, the bet would still win, but at a lower payoff rate than with the moneyline.

NHL Over/Under Goals Example:

Over/under totals betting is wagering on whether the combined score of a game will go over or under a set number.

A segment of the NHL betting public prefers totals because they offer consistently lower prices than the moneyline or the puck line. Also, these bettors don't want to worry about who wins the game or by how much on the puck line.

Goaltending and the playing styles of the two teams factor into the over/under NHL betting potential. Keep in mind that oddsmakers set prices accordingly for expectedly low or high-scoring games.

Most Popular NHL Betting Types

NHL Moneyline Bets: An example of moneyline betting is the Detroit Red Wings +124 on a $100 bet vs. the Florida Panthers -148 to win $100. Gamblers simply bet on the straight-up winner.

NHL Puck Line (Spread) Bets: The Puck line is different in that the Red Wings would be at +1.5 goals at -192 to win $100, or the Panthers would be at -1.5 goals at +160 on a $100 bet. The Panthers would have to win by two goals to cover the bet, while the Red Wings would have to lose by less than two goals or win outright.

Total Goals (Over/Under): An example of the total on the Red Wings vs. Panthers is 5.5 over +105 on a $100 bet or under 5.5 -125. If the Red Wings won 4-2, that means the over the hockey odds total would win.

First Goal Scorer & Anytime Goal Scorer: These are fun props bet options. You can bet on which player scores the first goal or which players will score at any time.

NHL Prop Bets (Player & Team Props): Player props include how many points a player scores. Team props include how many goals a team will score or allow in a period, game, etc.

Live NHL Betting: Live betting (a.k.a. in-game betting) is a wager made during the game. Gamblers can hedge previous bets or adjust to new factors.

NHL Futures (Stanley Cup, Division Winners, MVP): A future bet example would read Florida Panthers +650 to win the Stanley Cup (for a $100 bet). You can also bet on such futures as which player will win the MVP award.

Bet on Major NHL Events at Prime Sportsbook

Major NHL events include the regular season opener, the All-Star Game, and tournaments such as the 4-Nations Faceoff and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Prime Sportsbook makes NHL betting on major events fun and exciting with promotional offers and additional wagering opportunities. Gamblers should check back frequently for the latest special event offers. Wagering on the NHL? Our hockey betting guide explains how to bet with confidence.

NHL Regular Season

The NHL regular season runs from October through April, and each team plays 82 regular-season games, so there is plenty of NHL betting line action.

Gamblers should check back frequently as the NHL odds change with news and lineup announcements.

NHL Playoffs

As the saying goes, there is nothing like playoff hockey. Each April, the top eight teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences (16 total) qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The first team to win four games in a potential seven-game series wins the playoff. Gambling interest is high, with casual bettors joining the excitement.

NHL Stanley Cup

The oldest sports trophy in North America, the Stanley Cup, is awarded to the winning team of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. To win, players dive in front of 100-mile-per-hour shots.

The Cup is awarded to the new winning team each June.

NHL All-Star Game

The NHL All-Star Game is usually played each January unless a special event, such as the 2025 4-Nations Faceoff, occurs.

The All-Star game does not resemble actual hockey, as it is meaningless, with players trying to avoid injuries. Still, it draws plenty of NHL betting action.

NHL Live Betting

Live betting and NHL odds are a perfect fit; this type of betting can be used for momentum swings, power plays (when a team is shorthanded due to a penalty), goaltender changes, injuries, or other factors.

During a hockey game, there are times when one team will dominate the play, but then the other team dominates as the game progresses. Some teams are strong on the power play, making for a potential advantage, especially against poor penalty-killing teams.

You could also use in-game betting to take advantage of devastating blows, like a key player leaving the game.

Common NHL Terms

There are countless NHL terms, but among the most common is power play (when a team has a one- or two-man advantage over an opponent).

A captain wears a “C” on his jersey and is the most respected player on his team. Change on the fly is when hockey players enter and exit the ice as play continues. A forecheck is like a press in basketball. The neutral zone is the middle third of the ice. A quarterback is like a point guard in basketball. An example of an odd-man rush is three offensive players against two defenders.

NHL Power Play

A power play occurs when one team is penalized and loses one of its players to the penalty box, giving the other team a man advantage.

In some cases, a team could have a two-man advantage if additional penalties occur.

NHL Penalty Kill

An NHL penalty kill is a term for the shorthanded team after a penalty. A penalty is killed when the penalized player(s) return to the ice.

Gamblers should study each team's power play and shorthanded statistics and rankings for potential live betting opportunities.

NHL Goaltender Save Percentage

A goaltender’s save percentage is a leading indicator of ability. The higher the save percentage above .900, the better the goaltender. The further under .900 a save percentage is, the worse the goaltender.

NHL Hat Trick

An NHL hat trick is when an individual player scores three goals in a single game. You can often get prop odds or live betting odds on a player scoring a hat trick.