The best NHL betting sites have lines on every NHL game but also post odds on game-to-game or season-long player props. Those include bets on a player to score a goal in a particular game to how many points they’ll finish the season with.
There’s also a vast futures betting market where you can bet on who will win the Stanley Cup, which teams will make the playoffs, and who will win the Hart trophy, among others.
Here’s how to bet on NHL games online and where to find the best NHL betting sites.
Best betting sites for NHL
This can come down to personal preference, but here are four of the top NHL betting sites to consider as you look for a sportsbook or sportsbooks that are right for you along with some of their top features.
FanDuel Sportsbook for NHL betting
FanDuel is a great option for live betting through its app with in-game NHL betting available for the main betting types.
It’s also difficult to compete with the number of live props FanDuel has to choose from. Mapping out NHL parlay combinations has never been easier than with FanDuel’s parlay builder. Among the other NHL markets you’ll find at FanDuel online sportsbook:
Moneyline- Puckline
- Totals
- Division futures
- Jack Adams Trophy
- First goalscorer
- Points player props
- Alternate lines
BetMGM Sportsbook for NHL odds
BetMGM offers generous odds for NHL bettors, and that is especially the case in the futures betting market if you like making season-long wagers.
BetMGM provides an “Edit My Bet” feature where you can make revisions even after hitting “Place Bet” on an NHL game. NHL markets you can expect at BetMGM sportsbook online, among others:
Moneylines- Pucklines
- Over/Unders (Totals)
- Nation of Stanley Cup winner (US or Canada)
- 1st/2nd/3rd Period Spreads
- Eastern/Western Conference Futures
- Presidents Trophy Winner
Caesars Sportsbook for NHL betting
If you’re into odds boosts, Caesars offers strong NHL promotions daily with multiple options to choose from especially on parlays. Other sportsbooks will struggle to compete with the high volume of NHL odds boosts that can be found throughout the season.
Expect to see these NHL markets and more at Caesars Sportsbook:
Moneyline- Pucklines
- Totals
- To make the playoffs
- Lowest regular season point total
- When the first goal is scored
- Country of Stanley Cup winner (USA vs Canada)
- Calder Memorial Trophy winner
DraftKings Sportsbook for NHL odds
If you want to bet on just about anything when it comes to the NHL, DraftKings Sportsbook probably has it. The book has a full menu of props for every game with a number of ways to get in on the action. Among the NHL odds markets you’ll find:
Moneylines- Puck Lines
- Totals
- Goal in the first 10 minutes
- Anytime scorer
- Both teams to score 2+ goals
- Stanley Cup futures
- Shots on goal
DraftKings offers NHL bettors free-to-play contests on occasion with a prize pool.
NHL betting apps
The most convenient forum to bet on the NHL is through betting apps, and you can download your favorite via our links.
You no longer have to be physically located inside a sportsbook to make bets, and you can pull out your phone and place a bet instead without any issues as long as you are in a legal betting state and using a regulated sportsbook.
This is especially important with the rise in live betting, also called in-game betting. With a sportsbook app, you can bet on an NHL game as the game is taking place. Odds adjust by the second, reacting to whatever happens in the game. It’s a thrilling way to bet on the action.
Online sportsbook apps are very convenient. Finding the different betting types is simple as you navigate through the NHL section.
You can bet on all the same NHL markets, from moneylines to puck lines and over/unders to team and player props and the futures market.
Best NHL odds boosts and promos
Sportsbooks are in the business of adding as many users as possible to their platforms. To attract more potential bettors, they’ll use odds boosts and promos to add customers and keep them happy while they’re already signed up.
Books are okay with taking a short-term financial hit because they recognize sports betting is designed for them to win and for the bettor to lose in the long run.
An example is Caesars Sportsbook boosting odds to +625 for the Bruins, Senators, Panthers and Predators to win in a parlay.
Check the odds boost section daily to see where it might make sense to take advantage. This is one of the rare areas where bettors are in a stronger position.
How to bet NHL online
Getting started in sports betting has never been easier or safer for the bettor as we now live in a regulated US online sports betting world. Below is a look at the steps you may need to take when signing up for any legal US online sportsbook.
- Take advantage of the welcome bonus: Sportsbooks are doing everything they can to attract new users, and this is where you can take advantage of sportsbook welcome bonuses. They may offer a percentage of your deposit up to a certain dollar amount or offer bonus bets.
- Download the app: Sports betting is easiest through betting apps. Identify which book or books are right for you and make the download.
- Sign up: To register for a sportsbook, you may need to provide basic info like name, email, phone number, date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number.
- Deposit and bet: Plenty of banking options are possible, so enter in whatever dollar amount you intend to use. After that, you’re ready to get started as a sports bettor.
How to bet an NHL puck line, moneyline or over-under
The three main ways to bet on an individual NHL game are the spread (or puck line), moneyline and over/under. Below is a description of each of them.
- Spread: Commonly referred to as the puck line, the better team will go in as 1.5-goal favorites, while odds on both sides may fluctuate greatly. If you bet on the favorite at -1.5, that team must win by more than 1.5 goals. However, if you want to bet on the underdog at +1.5 on the puck line, that team must lose by less than 1.5 goals or win outright.
- Moneyline: This is the simplest way to bet on sports as all you are doing is deciding which team will win the upcoming matchup, and it doesn’t matter how many goals are scored or how many goals a team wins by. Correctly betting on the underdog will lead to a higher payout than correctly betting on the favorite, and that’s reflected in the odds.
- Over/under: Also known as the total, oddsmakers will set a total number of goals they expect to be scored in a game by both teams combined. For example, a common number for an over/under in pro hockey is 6.5. If you believe more than 6.5 goals will be scored, take the over. If you believe the defenses will do better than oddsmakers suggest and keep the total goals under 6.5, bet on the under.
How to bet on NHL props & futures
Sportsbooks continue to do a great job at offering bettors numerous betting opportunities regardless of sport, and hockey is no different. Some prop betting and futures markets are better than others, but many sportsbooks will provide what you’re looking for.
For example, Edmonton Oiler Connor McDavid could have a point total set at 1.5 for an upcoming matchup, and bettors can decide whether they believe the star will go over or under that total. Various player props are available including the number of shots on goal, and some of the game props would include items like which team will score first.
The most popular way to bet on futures is to pick the team to win the Stanley Cup. This is extremely difficult, which is why choosing this wager correctly would be highly profitable.
If the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup at +380 odds, a $100 bet turns into a $380 profit.
NHL alternate lines
Sportsbooks will give bettors the option to change the lines in either direction, though this will impact the payout. If you are very confident in the favorite, you could move the puck line from 1.5 goals to 2.5 goals. Obviously, betting on a team to win by at least three goals can be tough, but your payout would be higher with a winning wager.
Many bettors decide to stay away from alternate line betting as it’s difficult enough to win in sports wagering consistently and in the above example, you’re making it harder on yourself with how unlikely the potential for a winner is.
The payout would be nice but oftentimes not worth it in most situations, which is why the books offer alternate lines to bettors.
How to find the best NHL lines
If you have some experience as a sports bettor or have been following sports betting discussions in any capacity, you may know the lines will often change from the time they are released to the time when the game gets started.
There are a few reasons for this. One could be a star player is sitting out or some other roster movement that makes the oddsmakers adjust their numbers, but the most likely reason is the sportsbooks are reacting to what the bettors are doing with their money.
Sportsbooks are in the business of limiting liability and minimizing risk at every stop. For example, if the over/under for a particular game is set at 6.5 and 90% of the money is going on the under, oddsmakers don’t want that. To combat this, the books may move the number to seven or change the odds to entice bettors to side with the over to even things out.
Sports bettors can take advantage of this through line shopping. While the odds at the various sportsbooks will often be similar, they are not always exact. By signing up for multiple online sportsbook apps, you can guarantee yourself the best possible numbers.
NHL in-game betting
Live betting has become very popular and many bettors can take advantage of the swings and momentum in a game to bet on hockey. Bettors need to be quick in getting their bets in at the right numbers because odds will adjust rapidly based on what is happening in the game.
Bettors may develop different strategies for in-game betting. For example, if a team tends to come out of intermissions better than others, picking on the team that typically makes the better adjustments could be a profitable way to go.
Some go with betting against momentum as that’s where the value might lie based on the numbers offered by the books.
Using a sportsbook app is the most convenient way to bet on the live lines, so consider signing up for one or multiple books through your phone or tablet.
What makes hockey betting special?
NHL betting is a very different betting format from sports like football and basketball and is very similar to baseball betting. The NHL puck line is almost always set at 1.5 goals, while MLB betting has the same format with what is called the run line.
For example, in an NFL game, the point spread for an NFL game could vary greatly and a team might even be favored by 7.5 points. In the NHL, the favorite will almost always be favored by 1.5 goals, and bettors have to decide whether the odds given are worth betting on the favorite or underdog.
Especially if you are already a fan of the sport, the NHL might be a strong area to get your sports betting life started.
NHL betting rules at online sportsbooks
For whatever sportsbooks you register for, it is very important to read the rules and regulations page, which should be readily available to all bettors. Many books say an NHL game must start on time at the scheduled location and go at least 55 minutes long for a bet to have action.
Operators should provide the most transparent experience possible in a regulated market, so if you have questions on specific situations, reach out to their support team.
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