Puck Line NHL:
While player props have become more popular when betting on the NHL, like they have in most other sports, sides and totals are still the most popular wager for betting NHL games. I am here to tell you that it’s time to start being more open to playing the “Puck Line”. What is the Puck Line, you ask? It’s hockey’s version of against the spread and it means your team must win by at least two goals.
Of the 164 games played in October, 106 of those games saw the winning team cover the Puck Line (64%). Of those 106 teams to cover the Puck Line, 65 were the Favorite and 41 were the Underdog.
Here is an example to illustrate the advantages of betting Favorites on the Puck Line as opposed to the moneyline. One of the trends I have been tracking this season are the results of betting favorites (-175 to -199). Through 29 games, the Favorites are 19-10 on the Money Line but -1.5 units. If you played those same 29 games on the Puck Line, you would be 15-10 but up, 6.9 units.
You should also be aware that most sportsbooks offer alternate Puck Lines that allow you to turn the Underdog into the betting favorite and lay the -1.5 goals. For example, if you chose to take a +110 Underdog and decided to play the alternate Puck Line, you would have a betting line of around +225. My recommendation would be if you want to play the Underdog, I will split my bet and play .75 units on the Money Line and .25 units on the Puck Line. I would never play the Underdog getting +1.5 goals because typically the juice is going to be typically -170) and greater. The concept of betting on a team that you believe will lose the game and you are betting that it is only going to be by one goal will end up being a losing proposition and kill your bankroll.
I’ll keep an eye on this trend going forward. If you still have questions, feel free to DM me @westcoasthky and check out my daily best bets column six days a week here at VSiN.com.
Here are the Puck Line results from October:
| Teams | Puck Line Wins | Total Wins | Puck Line Losses | Total Losses |
| Anaheim | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Boston | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Buffalo | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Calgary | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Carolina | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Chicago | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Colorado | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Columbus | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Dallas | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Detroit | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Edmonton | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Florida | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Montreal | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Nashville | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| New Jersey | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| NY Islanders | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Ny Rangers | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Ottawa | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Philadelphia | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Pittsburgh | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| San Jose | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Seattle | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| St. Louis | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Tampa | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Toronto | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Utah | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Vancouver | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Vegas | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Washington | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Winnipeg | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
