It's rare to see a bet type that's exclusive to one sport, yet that's exactly what puck line betting is. Though similar to other wager types, it is only available on hockey. This guide will explain the puck line meaning and detail everything you need to know ą± to take full advantage ofź¦ this type of bet.
Puck Line Meaning: Quickly Explained
American sports bettors are well aware of spread betting ā a popular bet type that's great for match outcome wagers. Well, a puck line bet is essentially hockeyās answer to spread betting.
However, instead of the sportsbook providing an array of different spreads, which is common when placing spread bets on various football and basketball markets, the puck line is almost always set at +/- 1.5.
A ā-ā denotes the team thatās favored to win, whereas a ā+ā denotes the underdog. However, given that the line is setź¦ at 1.5, thereās greater variation with the odds compared to the lines that are set for football or basketball games.
For your puck line bet to win, the favorite must win by two or more goals, while the underdog cannot lose by more than two goals.
Puck Line Meaning: Real Example
Given hockeyās popularity in the US, sportsbooks will provide hockey markets for leagues across the globe. European leagues are covered in impressive depth, although the National Hockey League (NHL) remains the primary focus.
Puck lines are a prominent bet type for hockey betting, so sportsbooks will ensure that this market is always clearly displayed ā typically alongside moneyline and totals markets.
The above screenshot is taken from DraftKings showing the markets currently offered for the 2024 season opener between the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. The Devils are 1.5 favorites on the puck line at odds of +150, while Sabres are the 1.5 underdogs at -180. These oddsš mean that youād need to stake $180 for $100 profit if the Sabres win, and make $150 from a ą½§$100 bet if the Devils win.
By backing the Devils on the puck line, youād need them to win by at least two šgoals for your wager to be successful. So, if the finašl score is 3-1 to the Devils, your puck line bet would win.
If you back the Sabres on the puck line and they lose by one goal, šā±draw or win the match, your bet will win.
What Is a Puck Line Bet in Hockey?
The term šāpuck lineā will only be seen in hockey betting, and is the sport's version of spread betting. While bookmakers will provide āalternate puck linesā which allows bettors to back teams to win or lš ose with different handicap margins, the default puck line is always set at 1.5.
This differs to football and basketball spread bettiš¦©ng, which sees bookies set different lines based on the matchup. Bookmakers set the line with the aim of having as close to even money on both sides ā so they canāt lose. These spreads make up for the gulf in quality between the two teams in question, and as a result, the odds are generally around the same mark.
However, a 1.5 spread is not always going to make up the difference in qualšity between two hockey teams. Therefāore, the odds will differ fairly drastically from game to game.
The image above shows the first markets on offer for the 2024 NHL season. The puck line is set at 1.5 š°for all three games, but the odds differ. For instance, you can back the St. Louis Blues (-1.5) at -230, but in another game, you can bet on the Buffalo Sabres to cover the spread against the New Jersey Devils at -180.
You must therefore always consider the odds when betting on the puck line.
Should You Bet Puck Lines or Moneylines?
As already discussed, a puck line bet is a type of spread bet in which youāre betting on a team to win by at least two goals, or not lose by more than two goals. If youāre betting on the underdog, they donāt actually need to win the game for your bet to win. The same goes if youāre betting on the favorite. If they win by just a single gź¦oal, your bet is a loser.
A moneyline bet is the simplest form of bet āš youāre simply betting on the team to win the game inš½ question.
Assessing which bet type is better is tough as your chances of making profit can differ by the game. Sports bettors, in general, prefer betting against the spread, but given that the puck line is stuck at 1.5, thereās less scope for variation and is therefore more prešdictable. Thus, puck line betting may not be quite as enjoyable as football or basketball spread betting, which are considerably higher scoring sports thź¦æan hockey.
Puck lišŖne betting is undoubtedly trickier and does require deeper thinking, which could test keener sports bettors. There are multiple factors to consider when placing a puck line bet that are less significant with moneyline betting. Hockeyās overtime rules exclusively favor the underdog on the puck line, but the emptšy net ploy can help the favorite run up the score towards the end of the game.
š Overall, thereās no rigā±ht answer as to which bet type is better or more profitable ā puck line betting will just have you considering more factors.
How To Place a Puck Line Bet
The brilliance of the very best US sportsbooks is that they make it so easy for sports bettors to place their desired bets. With puck line betting being immensely popular among hockey bettš§ors, bookies make the process of placing these bets markedly simple.
Hereās how you can place a puck line bet with DraftKings:
Log into your DraftKings account.
(Source: DraftKings) Access the sportsbookās hockey coverage via theź¦ A-Z list down the left-hand side of the homepage.
(Source: DraftKings) Select which hockey league youād likāe to betš· on.
The available games will manifest down the centre ofļ·½ the homepage with puck lines pšresent.
Scan the odds and choose which betš yšou'd like to place.
Your bet will land in your bet slip right away, shown in the top right-hand cį¦orāner.
(Source: DraftKings) Confirm how much youād like to stake and click the green āPlace Bš°etsā icon to finish the process.
Puck Line Meaning: Betting Tips & Strategies
As mentioned, puck line betting is a tough bet type that requires plenty of thought to masteš§ør. Here are four tips and strategies for mastering puck line bettinš±g:
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Analyze the odds: With the puck line always set at 1.5, the odds deviate š³based on the quality difference between the two teams. While youāll often see similar odds for NFL and NBA spread betting, you must consider which hockey games are boašsting the greatest value when placing a puck line bet.
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Consider overtime: There are no dāraws in hockey, with the two teams heading into an extended overtime period at the end of regulation if the scores are tied. However, overtime is irrelevant with two-way puck line betting, as once a team scores just one goal in overtime, the game is over. Thereās no chance for a team to cover the spread, with your puck line bet having already been decided if it does end a tie. These rules would favor the underdog in this betting context.
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Think about empty net goals: Itās common in soccer for teams to concede on the counter-attack later on in gamšes when chasing an equaliser or a winning goal. We often see something similar in hockey. Teams chasing the game may even take their goalie out and bring on another attacker to give them more impetus going forward and more of a chance of scoring. However, teams that do this can easily be caught out going the other way. Thereās more of a chance for the winning team to run up the score late on to ensure they cover the spread.
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Be aware of starting lineups: This is important no matter what sport or bet type. Youāve got to check the news for injury updates and assess the starting lineups once theyāre announced. Teams may be without their starting goalie, āor their leading scorer mayš be on the sidelines. Sub-optimal team selection will alter how you place your puck line bets.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
This guide has detailed everything there is to knoš±w about puck line betting. The form of š¼spread betting is immensely popular among hockey bettors, with the default 1.5 line making other factors, such as the odds, even more important. While betting against the spread is always tough, isn't it such a fun way to bet?
faqs
3-way puck line betting introduces the draw as another option for bettors. The spread will always be a whoāle number and youāre essentially betting on a team tź§o win by an exact number of goals.
š¤ŖOvertime is pretty irrelevant as teams can only score one goal in this period. Your two-way puck line bet wouldāve been decided before the overtime period.
If a ā-ā comes beāfore the 1.5, that team is conāsidered the favorite and they must win by at least two goals for your bet to win.
There is nothing to calculate as the puck line is always set at š1.5.
Puck line betting is another form of handicap betting as youāre not betting on the match outcome as such. You merely need teams to win by more than two goals or not lš§ose by more than two goals.
Alternate puck lines are the alternaš tive spreads provided by bookmakers. If you donāt want to back a team at the 1.5 lš¦©ine, you can opt for a different line ā 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, etc.