NHL Odds & Betting Lines

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Understanding NHL Odds

If you're a hockey fan looking to bet on the National Hockey League, understanding NHL odds is essential. Our real-time NHL odds page offers the latest betting lines, including moneylines, point spreads, and totals. These odds help you make educated NHL picks on your favorite teams and matchups.

We will use the odds table between the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets as an example throughout this guide.

Types of NHL Bets

When betting on NHL games, you'll come across three main types of odds:

1. Moneyline:

A straightforward bet on which team will win the game. Favorite are marked with a minus (-) sign, and underdogs with a plus (+) sign. For example:

• Los Angeles Kings (-142): Bet $142 to win $100.
• Columbus Blue Jackets (+130): Bet $100 to win $130.

2. Point Spread (Goal Line):

A wager on the margin of victory. The favorite must win by more than the set spread, while the underdog can lose within the spread or win outright. To cover a spread, the selected team must beat the goal line assigned by oddsmakers.

For example: If the Rangers are a -1.5 favorite, they must win by 2 goals or more to cover the spread. For the underdog, the bet wins if the team loses by 1 goal or wins outright.

Bettors must also consider the juice, or vig, which is the "tax" sportsbooks apply to each wager. For example, a juice of -200 means you must bet $200 to win $100. This varies between favorites and underdogs. There's also another scenario that is known as a “push”. A push means that no team covered the spread and you will get the money back that you placed on the wager. In some instances, oddsmakers will set an even spread, which means that they see each team as likely to win the contest as the other. This is commonly referred to as a “pick ‘em” matchup.

Over/Unders

Bet on whether the total number of goals scored by both teams will be over or under a set number.

For example: If oddsmakers set the total at 6.5 goals, betting the "over" wins if 7 or more goals are scored. Betting the "under" wins if 6 or fewer goals are scored.

How to Use the Action Network's NHL Odds Page

You’ll notice that moneylines, point spreads, and over/under totals vary between sportsbooks for the same NHL game. Experienced bettors know the importance of "shopping for lines" - comparing odds across sportsbooks to ensure the best payout.

To simplify this, The Action Network’s NHL Odds page compiles real-time odds from leading sportsbooks, highlighting the most favorable options for each bet type. Here’s how to get the most out of it:

1. Find the Best Odds: The "Best Odds" column shows the highest-value line for each bet type across sportsbooks.
2. Filter by Bet Type: Narrow your view to specific bet types (moneyline, spread, over/unders) or show all options at once.
3. Personalize Your View: Action Network subscribers can display only the sportsbooks they use, streamlining their experience.
4. Real-Time Adjustments: Use the NHL Odds page to track live updates and bet dynamically during games.

NHL Odds by Game Period

Some sportsbooks offer odds for specific game periods (1st, 2nd, or 3rd period). Use our page to filter and explore these unique opportunities for more targeted bets.

Sports Betting Accessibility

Note: Sports betting laws vary by location. Our NHL Odds page tailors available sportsbooks and betting lines based on your state or region.

Other Ways to Bet on NHL

There are other options available for those looking for more ways to get into NHL betting including:

• Parlay
• Futures
• Player Props
• Daily Fantasy

NHL Parlays

A parlay combines multiple wagers into one ticket, increasing the potential payout. For example:

• Single Bets: A $50 moneyline bet on Kings (-142) wins $35.21, while a $50 over 6.5 goals bet (-130) wins $38.86. Combined payouts: $85.21 + $88.86 = $174.07.
• Parlay Bet: Combining both bets into one $100 parlay yields a total payout of $301.51. However, all legs of a parlay must win for it to pay out.

Need help calculating your parlay payouts? Don’t forget to take advantage of The Action Network’s Betting Odds Calculator.

NHL Futures

Futures bets are exactly what they sound like: betting on an event where the outcome will be settled in the future (not within the same day or week), such as predicting a team to win the Stanley Cupor a player to win a season award. These bets often offer higher payouts but require careful research.

NHL Prop Bets

Prop bets let you wager on specific player or game events, such as:

• Total goals by a player.
• Number of saves by a goalie.
• Whether a specific player scores during the game.

The Action Labs Prop Tool helps organize and evaluate hundreds of prop bets daily.

NHL Daily Fantasy

In states where sports betting isn’t legal, DFS provides an alternative. Compete against other users by drafting teams or placing prop bets on platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, or PrizePicks.

Need an edge? Use FantasyLabs to analyze player stats and set a winning lineup.

Sports betting is not currently legal in every state. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) have filled the void in those places where it is not legal as a sports betting alternative. 

NHL Betting Help

After reading this NHL betting guide, you should be able to read and understand an odds table. Being able to read an odds table, however, does not necessarily guarantee betting success. Here are a few tools from The Action Network that can help improve your betting win rate in NHL.

Public Betting Data

See where the majority of bets and money are going for NHL games. This data helps you assess public sentiment and decide whether to follow or fade the consensus.

 

The Action Network NHL Public Betting page enables you to filter between bet types as well so you can see the public sentiment across moneyline, spread, and totals.

PRO Projections

Our NHL experts analyze matchups, grading each based on performance trends, injuries, and betting value. Access these expert predictions via Action PRO.

PRO Report

For data-driven insights, the NHL PRO Report highlights key betting signals, such as sharp action, big money, and expert picks.

NHL Expert Picks

Prefer to leave it to the pros? Check out the NHL Picks page for expert predictions across various bet types and games.

NHL Odds FAQ