NHL betting guide: hockey odds from 1X2 to puck line
Low scoring, hot goalies and three-on-three overtime make North American hockey one of the trickiest leagues to price.
Updated October 4, 2026
NHL betting odds look simple until you notice that the same game can be priced three ways: a three-way result after 60 minutes, a two-way moneyline including overtime and shootout, and a puck line at ±1.5 goals. Knowing which one you are betting on is the first skill in hockey. This guide covers the National Hockey League format and its betting markets.
NHL format
Thirty-two teams play 82 regular-season games from October to April. A tied game after 60 minutes goes to five minutes of three-on-three overtime, then a shootout. Sixteen teams reach the playoffs, which run as four best-of-seven rounds to the Stanley Cup Final in June. In the playoffs there is no shootout: overtime periods of 20 minutes are played until someone scores.
Hockey markets, precisely
- 1X2 (60 minutes): home, draw or away after three periods. The draw is a real outcome, often around a fifth of games or more depending on the matchup.
- Moneyline: who wins including overtime and shootout; only two outcomes.
- Puck line: the hockey handicap, usually -1.5 for the favourite, which needs a two-goal win.
- Totals: lines such as 5.5 or 6.5 goals.
Empty-net goals are the hidden factor in hockey betting. A team trailing by one late pulls its goalie for an extra skater, and the leader often scores into the empty net. That turns many one-goal games into two-goal wins, which matters for the -1.5 puck line and for the over.
Worked example: a favourite at 1.60 on the moneyline implies 62.5 %, while the same team at 2.45 on -1.5 implies 40.8 %. The difference is the share of its wins that come by a single goal or after overtime.
How we price NHL games
Ice hockey runs on our goals model: each team has an attack and a defence strength from past results, plus home advantage, which gives expected goals. A Poisson distribution of goals for each side builds the full score grid after 60 minutes, and from it come the 1X2, the totals and the handicaps.
The NHL games open on Nocturn Sport right now:
| Time | Match | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers – Utah MammothLive | — | |
| Anaheim Ducks – Florida Panthers | 2.443.642.59 | |
| Seattle Kraken – Calgary Flames | 2.363.472.80 | |
| Vancouver Canucks – Vegas Golden Knights | 3.513.791.92 | |
| Tampa Bay Lightning – Philadelphia Flyers | 2.263.462.96 | |
| Boston Bruins – Ottawa Senators | 2.623.502.48 | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins – Winnipeg Jets | 2.123.663.09 | |
| Dallas Stars – San Jose Sharks | 2.123.623.09 | |
| Montreal Canadiens – Carolina Hurricanes | 2.683.532.42 | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs – Nashville Predators | 2.663.572.41 | |
| Detroit Red Wings – Ottawa Senators | 2.893.502.28 | |
| New Jersey Devils – Utah Mammoth | 2.973.562.21 |
All odds on nocturnsport.com →
Tips for betting the NHL
- Confirm the starting goalie; backups play the second night of many back-to-backs.
- Read the market name: a 60-minute bet loses if your team wins in overtime but the score was level after three periods.
- Our markets guide explains three-way versus two-way pricing.
More in the ice hockey betting hub; current prices at nocturnsport.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the NHL 1X2 and the moneyline?
The 1X2 is settled after 60 minutes and includes the draw. The moneyline includes overtime and the shootout, so it only has two outcomes.
Why is the puck line usually -1.5?
Hockey is low-scoring, so a one-and-a-half goal handicap turns a short-priced favourite into a near even-money bet that needs a win by two or more.