NHL Odds, Betting Lines and Spreads

Understanding NHL odds and bets

Learning and understanding NHL betting lines and odds is the difference between placing a winning and losing bet. After all, you need the odds to interpret the betting markets better. Moreover, NHL betting odds come in handy when calculating your expected winnings. Before you start wagering on NHL games, you should know:

How to read NHL lines?

Most US sportsbooks use American odds, so you are well sorted if you know how to read them. However, if you're a beginner in the scene, you should understand that sportsbook odds values are denoted with a sign. Positive values, for instance, +100, imply the underdogs, whereas negative odds such as -200 denote the favorites. This is how you read the odds, even when dealing with NHL Las Vegas odds.

How to calculate winnings?

Calculating winnings relies heavily on the kind of NHL odds you are dealing with. In any online sportsbook, the odds imply how much you are likely to earn for every $100 you wager. Therefore, if you decide to bet on the underdogs Carolina Hurricanes of the Eastern Conference during their Stanley Cup game, you will use the formula (Stake x Odds)/100. But if the club is the favorite, you will need the formula (Stake/Odds) x 100. These formulas apply even when placing parlay bets.

What to know when betting on the NHL in the USA?

Understanding the gambling landscape in your state is very important before wagering on NHL in the USA. Even with many regions accepting online sports betting, some states are yet to pass gambling laws. Currently, you can only place online bets in regions such as Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming, and Nevada. Besides the mentioned states, sports betting is not a crime in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. 

You must also read the sportsbooks' betting rules and regulations carefully. Get to know what currencies the gambling site accepts and learn about the wagering limits. Moreover, do in-depth research on the sports coverage, the extent of the betting markets, and factors that may lead to the closure of your account. More on how to bet on the NHL can be found on our NHL betting guide page. All these aspects will come in handy when gambling on NHL games.

Types of NHL bets

NHL betting markets determine the kind of wagers you can make. For example, you will need the market Moneyline to place a bet backing the Vegas Golden Knights to win a game against the Minnesota Wild. You also need the wagering option Totals to predict the total score in an NHL playoffs game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Nashville Predators. Some of the popular NHL markets you should watch out for include:

Moneyline

This is the most basic betting option in the sports gambling scene. The Money line odds allow gamblers to predict which team will win a particular NHL match-up. It can be a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Jersey Devils. When placing a Moneyline bet, you need to remember that the underdogs carry better odds/payouts than the favorites.

Spread

Spreads or puck lines are common bet types in NHL games that the operator uses to ensure fairness. It is one of the most popular betting odds markets you should consider if you want to fetch better prices on the favorite. In a match between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the operator may decide to handicap the Maple Leafs with -1.5 odds. If you bet on the Maple Leafs, they have to win the game with 2 or more goals for the bet to win.

Totals

If you are seeking the easiest Over/Under bet, consider Totals. The betting market requires you to predict how many goals two teams are likely to score during a match. Therefore, if the Florida Panthers are playing the Pittsburgh Penguins, you can guess whether the Total scores will be Over or Under a particular number.

Prop bets

Prop bets are fantastic markets that allow you to bet on events that don't affect the game's outcome. NHL prop bets are categorized into player props and team props. For instance, if the Tampa Bay Lighting is playing the Washington Capitals, you can bet on the Team to score first or the player to record the most points.

Futures bets

A futures bet is an excellent option for obtaining better odds. With NHL futures, you can wager on events that will occur later in the season. This could include betting on outcomes such as the Stanley Cup winner, division champions, or individual player awards like the Hart Trophy.

These bets offer the opportunity for potentially higher payouts but often require patience, as the outcome may not be determined until the end of the season. Here are some of the futures available:

NHL Finals odds

NHL Finals odds allow gamblers to predict which team will be crowned winners in a particular NHL season. You can also bet on the Stanley Cup odds or the teams that will play in the Stanley Cup finals. Odds provided by FanDuel sportsbook:

NHL MVP odds

The MVP award is a Hart Trophy that recognizes the most valuable player to his team throughout the season. NHL MVP odds require you to predict who will win the Hart Trophy at the end of the NHL season. Here's the most recent NHL MVP odds, with the odds provided from FanDuel sportsbook:

NHL Rookie of the Year odds

You can now predict the most proficient player in his first NHL competition, thanks to NHL lines like futures. The winner of the Calder Trophy odds is presented with the Calder Memorial Trophy. Here are the current odds provided by FanDuel sportsbook:

NHL Draft odds

Finally, the NHL draft odds is a futures betting market that requires you to predict which team will make the first pick. Note that the NHL drafts odds percentage is usually based on the final standings of the teams.

Parlays

Parlays, also known as accumulator bets, offer enticing odds for those who seek excitement and are willing to take some risks. With Parlay betting, you have the option to combine up to five predictions on a single betting slip. This means you can not only pick the winner in a match-up between teams like the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks, but also place spread bets and other types of wagers. However, it's important to note that for your parlay to be successful, all the bets within it must be accurate.

Why compare NHL odds on Oddspedia?

Oddspedia has a comprehensive NHL odds page. The site sources odds from the best sportsbooks to ensure you get the best values across 100+ markets. For instance, expect the best odds on NHL Moneyline and Future markets, among other categories. This explains why you should compare NHL odds on Oddspedia. Other benefits to odds comparison include:

Odds comparison helps you win more on NHL

Odds play a major role in determining the amount of money you are likely to win if you place a correct bet. The odds you get will directly impact your payout. You need to compare different sportsbooks and settle for one with the highest odds in that particular market. With proper odds comparison, you are assured of bigger winnings.

Find the best NHL odds for today

Finding the best ice hockey odds for today is not as easy as it seems. Some sportsbooks update their odds later than expected, making it hard for players to find the latest NHL odds for today. However, if you perform a thorough odds comparison, you are guaranteed to land better odds. All you have to do is find the betting site with the highest current odds. In this regard, Oddspedia has a complete list of the best NHL odds for today, updated in real-time.

Track line movement

Odds comparison is the best way to track NHL line movement when placing live bets. As you compare odds, you can easily identify changes in the lines and the direction of the change. Just make sure you are keen when tracking line movements so that you may gather the correct statistics for the ice hockey live scores.

Find the best NHL sportsbooks

One of the biggest advantages of comparing odds is landing the best NHL sportsbooks. However, you need to go beyond just odds comparison and look at the site's licensing information, market coverage, and the sportsbook's bonus offers for the comparison to be accurate. Note that the ideal sportsbook should be licensed with excellent NHL coverage. Moreover, it should have a generous welcome offer and sportsbook promos for current clients, just like bet365. Lastly, make sure the gambling platform is secure. When comparing odds, some of the safest betting sites in the US that you will run into include BetVictor and BetMGM.

FAQ

What is a moneyline?

Moneyline is an NFL betting market that allows you to bet on the team likely to win the match. It is one of the most common and popular betting options.

How to use odds comparison for NHL?

You can use odds comparison to find the highest odds for a specific NHL market. Once settled on the best odds that you can use, proceed to the US sportsbook with the identified odds. NHL bettors can use odds comparisons to get the best odds for today or track betting lines.

What does the spread represent in NHL?

The spread in NHL represents a handicap bet where a team is favored or disadvantaged to level the playing field. Spreads or puck lines are incredible whenever you want to get the highest odds.

What is NHL futures betting?

NHL futures betting is wagering on NHL games scheduled or expected to take place in the future. This can be betting on the NHL MVP or NHL rookie of the year.

When are NHL odds released?

NHL odds are released before the drafting of players to different NFL teams. This makes it easy for gamblers to place different bets, including future bets, which often come with better odds.

Are there odds for MVP?

Yes, there are MVP odds in NHL betting regardless of the sportsbook. These are classified under the futures market since you get to pick the MVP before the season begins.

What are Vegas odds NHL?

Vegas odds in the NHL refer to the odds format used by US sportsbooks today. The Vegas odds are similar to American odds, only that they are represented in a different form, for example, 3to1, implying 3 chances the event will win and 1 chance the event will lose.

What Is The 60 Minute Line?

A 60-minute line is a form of Moneyline odds where you bet one of the teams to win in 60 minutes. However, this betting market encompasses the draw sports betting option.

Which bookie has the best odds for NHL?

My bookie has the best odds for the NHL. The sportsbook offers its players generous Moneyline, Spreads, and Futures odds to ensure they enjoy substantial payouts in case they place correct bets.