Sports betting has exploded in popularity in recent years. With the Supreme Court striking down a federal ban on sports gambling in 2018, many states have legalised placing wagers on professional and college sports. This has opened up sports betting to a whole new audience. However, for many casual fans and newcomers, some of the terminology and types of bets can be confusing. One of the most misunderstood is the puck line in hockey betting. This article will explain what the puck line is, how it works, and strategies for betting it successfully.
What is Point Spreads
To understand puck lines, you first need to understand how point spreads work in sports betting. A point spread is a handicap that oddsmakers apply to games to create a more even betting field between two unevenly matched teams. The favoured team has to win by more than the spread for bets on them to cash, while the underdog team can lose by less than the spread and bets on them still win. Every bet placed has a spread number with a minus (-) for favourites and a plus (+) for underdogs. For example, New England -7 means the Patriots have to win by more than 7 points to cover the spread. Dallas +7 means the Cowboys can lose by 6 points or less and still cover as the underdog.
How the Puck Line Works in Hockey
Because hockey games can often have a wider scoring margin, a regular point spread does not even out the action enough for bookmakers. This is where the puck line comes into play. In hockey betting, the puck line uses a spread of 1.5 goals instead of the standard 1-point spread used in other major sports. For example, on a typical NHL game the puck line might look like:
Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (1.83) Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5 (1.71)
This means that the Lightning would have to win by 2 or more goals for bets on -1.5 to win. The Penguins can lose by 1 goal and still cover the +1.5 puck line for bettors taking the underdog. The number in parentheses is the payout odds for each side of the bet. As you can see, taking the favourite to cover a wider margin comes with a better payout.
Puck Line Betting Strategies
When deciding whether to bet the puck line versus the moneyline (outright winner), there are a few factors to consider:
- Team styles – Some teams play a defensive style and tend to win a lot of close, low-scoring games. Others are offensive powerhouses capable of blowing out opponents. Look at recent scores to identify which teams are better puck line candidates.
- Home vs. away – NHL teams typically score more goals and win by wider margins when playing at home. Road teams often play a more conservative style. Consider the venue when assessing a puck line.
- Injuries – Missing a top offensive player often leads to teams struggling to score goals. This can make covering a 1.5 goal spread difficult. Monitor injury reports before betting the puck line.
- Goaltending – A hot goalie can single-handedly keep games close. Research goals against averages and recent performance to determine if a big edge exists in the net.
- Betting value – Converting +1.5 underdogs to the puck line at better odds can provide betting value. Be sure the payout odds compensate for the added risk.
As with any bet, only wager amounts you are comfortable losing. Puck line bets can carry a higher risk due to the wider spread. However, by doing your homework and strategically picking spots, the puck line can be a great way to boost winnings when you have a strong handicapping read on a game.
Table of Common Puck Line Odds
| Favourite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds |
|---|---|
| -1.5 1.91 | +1.5 1.77 |
| -1.5 1.83 | +1.5 1.71 |
| -1.5 1.77 | +1.5 1.67 |
| -1.5 1.71 | +1.5 1.63 |
| -1.5 1.67 | +1.5 1.59 |
| -1.5 1.63 | +1.5 1.56 |
| -1.5 1.59 | +1.5 1.53 |
| -1.5 1.56 | +1.5 1.50 |
As shown in the table, the favoured team laying 1.5 goals will have decimal odds between 1.91 to 1.56, while the underdog getting 1.5 goals will have decimal odds between 1.77 to 1.50. These odds illustrate the risk-reward tradeoff when betting sides on the puck line versus taking safer bets like the moneyline. All in all, the puck line betting is not so tough to understand. The main advice is being selective and doing diligent research before betting teams to cover the 1.5 goal spread. Use it sparingly when you have a strong handicapping angle on teams likely to win in blowout fashion. Regardless of the strategies on the puck line, there is no win-win strategy, always bet responsibly.