How to Bet on Hockey with bet365

The NHL playoffs are now in full-swing, making this a good time to break down all the different types of ways to bet on hockey with bet365.

How do Odds Work in Hockey?

Odds in hockey work the same as every other major sport in the United States. One team will be favored (minus sign in front of number), and the payout correlates with who is supposed to win the game.

In the example below, Vancouver (-140) is the favorite to beat Colorado (+120). The -140 number implies a win probability of 58.5%, and a $100 bet would profit $71 (total payout of $171) if Vancouver wins. A $100 bet on Colorado would profit $120 (total payout of $220).

Team	Odds	Bet Amount	Expected Payout
Colorado	+120	$100	$220
Vancouver	-140	$100	$171

Hockey Betting Markets

From moneylines, puck lines, and totals, to player props, game props, and futures, hockey has plenty of markets to bet on. Are you good at picking goalscorers? What about your pick to win the Stanley Cup? bet365 has you covered for everything hockey.

Moneylines

A moneyline bet is the simplest bet in sports. It's just picking the winner of the game, just like the example with the table above. The margin of victory does not matter in this market, The team with the minus (-) is favored, while the team with the plus (+) is the underdog.

Puck Lines

Puck line betting in hockey is effectively the spread in most other sports. It's similar to baseball, where the team favored will typically have a -1.5 run line with odds associated to the likelihood that they win by two runs or more.

If we use the example above, perhaps Vancouver is -1.5 on the puck line. That would mean that Vancouver would have to win by two or more goals for the bet to be a winner. Meanwhile, if Colorado wins the game, or loses by one goal, the COL +1.5 run line bet would be a winner.

Totals

Along with a moneyline and a puck line, every game will also have a total. Commonly referred to as the "over/under" of the game, sportsbooks will determine the line for the total number of goals scored in the game, and bettors can choose whether or not the teams will score over or under the line. This market is also typically a coin flip, with the odds for the over and under listed at -110 most of the time.

Prop Bets

Hockey has plenty of player prop bets from goals, shots, assists, and points, to blocked shots and goalie saves. Prop bets are one of the most common forms of sports betting and are usually combined in a parlay.

Parlays

Parlays are also very common in hockey. A parlay combines several different bets into one slip, and all bets (or legs) have to win for the parlay to win. Parlays can be 10+ legs, but even just two selections would constitute a parlay. It's a riskier form of sports betting as the chances of winning are low, but the payouts are massive.

Bettors can parlay all the moneyline winners of the day, along with totals, puck lines, and player props.

Same Game Parlays

Same Game Parlays are parlays that are built from...the same game. From the example above, adding Vancouver to win and Nathan MacKinnon to score a goal to your bet slip would create a Same Game Parlay (SGP).

Special Hockey Bets

Hockey has plenty of unique bets that can't be found for any other sport. Below are a couple of the most popular "special" hockey markets.

3-Way Moneyline

The 3-Way Moneyline market is a popular game prop because it offers significantly longer odds than just the classic moneyline bet. This market has longer odds because your pick has to win in regulation. You can pick a team to win or a tie in regulation. If the game goes into overtime, your bet is a loser, unless you selected "tie," of course.

Power Play Points

A hockey specific market, the Power Play Points market let's you choose a player to go over or under 0.5 points (goals or assists) while on the Power Play.

To Record a Shutout

This bet is for fans of goaltenders. Betting on a goalie to record a shutout (0 goals allowed to the opposing team) is a tough bet to win, but the payout is tremendous.

Tips for Betting on Hockey

Having a strategy to bet on hockey and the NHL is essential for all bettors. Below, we've outlined some common tips to keep in mind when placing your bets on baseball.

Check the Starting Goalie

In hockey, the star goalie does not play in every game. In fact, they may only play around 50-60 games per season as the backup goalie starts frequently to give the main goaltender a rest.

Of course, the starting goalie determines a lot. If he's susceptible to giving up plenty of goals, then the goalscorer market could be enticing. If the goalie is one of the best in the league, then the saves market would be worth considering.

Star Players Play Less Than Half the Game

Unlike basketball where star players may get 35-40 minutes of action per game, in hockey, the star players typically average less than 25 minutes of time on the ice. Realize that hockey has less stoppages than most any other sport, so players have to rest while the game is in play.

Responsible Gambling on Hockey

Hockey, just like most any other sport, has plenty of luck and unpredictability involved. The hardest slap shot of the game could hit the post, while a soft shot that deflects off of someone else could end up in the goal. Before increasing your wager size, test your research with smaller units to see if your return of investment is positive.

For more on responsible gambling, bet365 has a dedicated resource page that can be found at https://responsiblegaming.nj.bet365.com/us.

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.

Hockey Betting FAQs

Betting on hockey can sometimes be confusing for non-hockey fans. Below are five of the most asked questions surrounding hockey betting.

1. What Does "-1.5" Mean in Hockey Betting?

The -1.5 "spread" in hockey is called the puck line. It works the same way as a typical spread, as the -1.5 team will have to win by two or more goals to cover, while the +1.5 team can either win or lose by one to cover.

2. What is "Shots on Goal" in Hockey Betting?

Shots on goal is a very popular player prop market for hockey. The line will typically be set at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 depending on often a player usually shoots per game.

Be mindful that the shots have to be on goal, meaning that the goalie has to save the shot, or the puck goes in the net.

3. What Does "3-Way" Mean in Hockey Betting?

Due to the frequency of overtime games in hockey, the 3-Way market allows you to bet on if the regulation result. Will a certain team win in regulation, or will regulation end in a tie? bet365 has those odds.

4. Can You Bet on Minor League Hockey?

Yes. Game markets for the AHL and ECHL are available to bet on, but not player props for those games. Also, select NCAA hockey games are also available to bet on.

5. What is DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) in Hockey Betting?

Each day, bettors will select nine players using a fair budget that equalizes the playing field. Bettors' entries will be placed into a group where the top scores earn money. DFS is not available on bet365.

Read more NHL news on site.