The NHL puck line is hockey's standard point spread and is usually fixed at 1.5 goals. A favorite at −1.5 must win by at least two goals. An underdog at +1.5 wins the wager by winning the game outright or losing by exactly one goal. The price attached to each side determines the payout.
See the current market on the NHL odds board.
What does −1.5 mean in hockey betting?
A team listed at −1.5 is giving 1.5 goals. The bet wins only when that team wins by two or more goals.
| Final score | −1.5 result |
|---|---|
| Favorite wins 4–2 | Win |
| Favorite wins 3–2 | Loss |
| Favorite loses | Loss |
The half goal prevents a push. A puck-line wager normally settles as either a win or a loss.
What does +1.5 mean?
A team at +1.5 receives a 1.5-goal advantage for grading purposes. The bet wins when the team:
- wins the game outright;
- loses by one goal; or
- reaches overtime and then loses by one goal.
It loses when the team is beaten by two or more goals.
Puck line versus moneyline
A moneyline bet asks only which team wins. A puck-line bet also considers the margin.
| Market | Favorite requirement | Underdog requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Win the game | Win the game |
| Puck line | Win by 2+ at −1.5 | Win or lose by 1 at +1.5 |
Because the −1.5 favorite has a harder condition than simply winning, it usually carries a longer price than the favorite's moneyline. The +1.5 underdog is protected against a one-goal loss, so it usually carries a shorter price than the underdog moneyline.
How overtime affects the puck line
An overtime or shootout winner is credited with a one-goal victory in the official final score. Therefore:
- a favorite at −1.5 cannot cover through an overtime or shootout win;
- an underdog at +1.5 covers when it loses in overtime or a shootout.
This is one reason the relationship between moneyline and puck-line prices is not trivial.
Why puck-line prices move
The spread usually remains fixed at 1.5, while the price changes. Common inputs include:
- starting-goalie news;
- injuries and lineup changes;
- rest and back-to-back scheduling;
- market action;
- changes in the moneyline and game total.
The number beside −1.5 or +1.5 is still a price. The offered odds differ from book to book, so every −1.5 is not the same wager.
Empty-net goals and two-goal margins
Late empty-net goals can turn a one-goal game into a two-goal final margin. That creates a meaningful difference between the moneyline and puck line: the favorite may cover −1.5 even when the game was one goal apart until the final minute.
This does not make −1.5 automatically valuable. It is simply one mechanism that produces multi-goal final scores.
Puck-line example
Suppose Toronto is listed:
- Moneyline: −165
- Puck line: Toronto −1.5 at +145
- Opponent +1.5 at −170
A Toronto win by one goal settles the −165 moneyline as a win but the +145 puck-line wager as a loss. A Toronto win by two or more goals settles both as wins.
Converted to implied probability, those prices read 62.26% for the moneyline favorite, 40.82% for the same team at −1.5, and 62.96% for the opponent at +1.5. The two puck-line sides total 103.78%, and the amount above 100% is the sportsbook's margin on that market. The odds converter does this conversion for any price.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Is the NHL puck line always 1.5 goals?
The standard NHL puck line is ±1.5, although some sportsbooks offer alternate puck lines with different spreads and prices.
Can a puck-line bet push?
A standard half-goal line cannot push. Alternate whole-number lines may have different settlement rules.
Does overtime count?
Yes. The official final score after overtime or a shootout is used for normal full-game puck-line settlement, subject to the sportsbook's rules.
Is −1.5 the same as a two-goal spread?
It requires the favorite to win by at least two goals, but the grading line is −1.5. There is no push at a one-goal margin.
Related: NHL betting guide · NHL odds board · odds converter · betting glossary
This guide explains how a betting market works and how the arithmetic is done. It is information, not betting advice: Nebula Insights publishes no picks, no selections and no recommended wagers. Sportsbook rules vary by book and jurisdiction — always confirm the house rules that apply to your account. 18+ only.