What Does The Puck-line Mean? A Breakdown of The Puck-line vs Moneyline

On sports betting sites, you will find a few common bet types. Moneyline betting is one the most common wager types but in hockey, the puck line is another extremely popular option. Knowing the difference between the two can give you a better idea of whether you should be betting on: the puck line or moneyline. Let’s get into it to see the difference between moneyline betting and puck-line betting.

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Whether you are totally new to sports betting or have been involved for a while, there are a ton of different bet types to consider. There are some differences when you consider NHL betting versus the regular offerings of moneyline betting.

Consider this your guide for the puckline vs moneyline in NHL betting and an answer to the question, “What does puck line mean?” By the end of this guide, you will be the master of the puckline, understanding how it works, and knowing when you may want to start placing this kind of bet when partaking in NHL betting.

How Do Moneylines Work?

Moneyline betting is the simplest form of betting there is. You don’t need to figure out anything more than who you think will win. It is the most simple form of betting, something that even newbies to the realm of sports betting can easily get a grasp on. Granted, picking a winner is a lot tougher than it seems, but it is an easy concept to understand.

The moneyline is also relatively simple. Let’s look at the following example: Buffalo Sabres (-145) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+160). Knowing what those numbers mean and how they impact the bet is the first place to start if you are unfamiliar with sports betting, in general. From there, you can learn about puck line betting, spreads, and all the other aspects of sports betting.

In this example, we can glean one piece of important information right away. The Sabers, with the negative number, are the favourites. The Blue Jackets, having a positive number next to their name, are the clear underdogs. This is an important place to start when deciding on who to bet on.

The larger the number on either side, the bigger the mismatch. We can tell that the Sabres are a sizable favourite while the Blue Jackets are a substantial underdog. For the most part in the NHL, you won’t see moneylines a whole lot bigger than that, though there are clear mismatches between the best and worst teams in the league. Because the level of parity is so high in the NHL, the odds never get too far apart from each other.

Finally, the odds tell us how much can be won when betting on either side. Because of the – symbol, we know that the number shown indicates how much must be bet to win $100 (in this case, $145). On the other hand, if you see a + symbol, that indicates how much you would win with a $100 bet ($160). This is an important factor to consider when placing your bets throughout the season.

Other Popular Betting Options

There is a lot more to sports betting than just the puck line or moneyline. In every major sports game, you will see the moneyline, puck line/run line/spread, and totals. The latter allows you to bet on the set total for the game, deciding on whether the final score will see the two teams combine for more (the over) or less (the under). In the Stars vs. Wild example, let’s say the total is set at 5.5. You might not feel good about who will win but have a strong feeling that there will be more than five goals scored.

The other market that is incredibly popular is player props. For each game, there are specific achievements that a bettor can wager on for many players. A prop for Jason Robertson of the Stars is in the over/under format and pertains to things like shots, goals, assists, points, and more.

Player props have become an exciting, popular way to change things up when betting. It may also be a bit easier in the eyes of bettors to track the trends of a specific player versus a whole team. It also offers a ton of different options to choose from rather than the three main bet types that are associated with the game itself.

Finally, another popular bet option is the same-game parlay. Parlays involve multiple bets on a single ticket with each bet or “leg” needing to hit in order to cash the ticket. The concept is the same except those legs are all on a single game. Same-game parlays typically encompass puck line, money line, over/under, alternate pucklines, goals scored for each team, and more.

FAQ

• What is the moneyline?

  The moneyline involves choosing the winner of the game. Factors like the margin of victory don’t matter with this bet type. Pick who you think will win and place your bet accordingly. As the simplest bet type, it is also one of the preferred bet types of bettors from all backgrounds.

• What is the puck line?

  The puck line, known as the point spread in other sports, is the amount by which a team must win or lose. If a team is -1.5 in the puck line, they must win by two or more goals in order to cash the bet. Likewise, a team that is +1.5 in the puck line, they must lose by less than two goals or win outright in order to cash the bet.

• What do the – and + mean in sports betting?

  The – and + in sports betting indicate the potential of the outcome. A – symbol indicates the more favourable outcome. So, if a team is -140 to win, they would be something of a sizable favourite. For spreads and puck line betting, it indicates what margin of victory or loss must be achieved. For the + symbol, we know that this is the less favourable outcome. The larger the number, the more likely/unlikely that bet is to cash.

• How can you know what your return will be on a winning bet?

  In the example between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars laid out above, we know that the Stars are -135 while the Wild are +125. The – tells us what we must bet to win $100 ($135 in this instance). The + symbol, meanwhile, tells us what we would win with a $100 wager ($125).

Conclusion

When you know what to look for, sports betting is pretty simple. From there, you can develop your own strategies and look for trends that will give you an edge. Knowing the differences between the puckline and moneyline will help you be best prepared for any betting situation. No matter if you bet on the puck line or moneyline, you will be prepared to make the right picks.

Julian Miller

Julian Miller is a Canadian writer and an avid sports fan. He has years of experience in the iGaming industry, having started writing while completing his university studies in Montreal, Quebec. In 2022, he graduated, and has since been working full-time in the iGaming space. He has a particular fondness for the English Premier League — though he also has plenty of experience covering football, basketball, and other sports.