Betting on NHL games can add excitement to your hockey-watching experience. However, to make informed bets, it’s crucial to understand NHL betting lines.
In this today’s guide, we’ll break down the basics of reading NHL betting lines and explain the key elements you need to know.
How to Read NHL Betting Lines?
To read NHL betting lines, you need to understand the three main types:
Moneyline Betting
One of the most common ways to bet on NHL games is through moneyline betting. In moneyline odds, you’ll encounter numbers that represent the potential payout for each team. Here’s how to interpret them:
- Positive Numbers (+): These indicate the potential profit you can make by betting $100. For instance, if you see a team with a moneyline of +150, you could make $150 in profit if your bet is successful.
- Negative Numbers (-): Negative numbers show how much you need to wager to make a $100 profit. If a team has a moneyline of -120, you’d need to bet $120 to make $100 in profit.
Over/Under Betting
In NHL betting, you can also wager on the total number of goals scored in a game, known as over/under betting. The odds for over/under bets might look like this:
- Over 5.5 (-110): This means that if you bet on the total goals scored being over 5.5, you’d need to wager $110 to potentially win $100 in profit.
- Under 5.5 (-110): Betting on the total goals being under 5.5 also requires a $110 bet to potentially win $100 in profit.
Puck Line Betting
Puck line betting is similar to point spread betting in other sports. It involves a 1.5-goal handicap. Here’s how to read puck line odds:
- Team A (-1.5, +150): This means that Team A is favoured by 1.5 goals. To win your bet, Team A must win by at least two goals. The odds of +150 indicate that you could make $150 in profit with a $100 bet.
- Team B (+1.5, -120): Team B is the underdog and has a 1.5-goal advantage. Even if Team B loses by a single goal, your bet will be successful. The odds of -120 mean you’d need to bet $120 to potentially win $100 in profit.
Three-Way Moneyline
In some NHL games, you might encounter a three-way moneyline bet, which includes the possibility of a tie or a draw. It’s represented as follows:
- Team A (+150): If you bet on Team A and they win, you could make $150 in profit for a $100 wager.
- Team B (+175): Betting on Team B means a potential $175 profit with a $100 bet if they win.
- Tie (+200): If the game ends in a tie and you bet on this outcome, you could make $200 in profit for a $100 wager.
Conclusion
Understanding NHL betting lines is essential for making informed wagers on hockey games. Moneyline odds show you the potential profit for each team, while over/under bets focus on the total goals scored. Puck line betting introduces a handicap, and three-way moneyline bets consider the possibility of a tie.
By learning these fundamentals, you’ll be well-equipped to enjoy NHL betting responsibly and with a deeper understanding of the odds presented. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your betting skills, reading NHL betting lines is a crucial step in the right direction.