What this guide covers
Ice hockey is the sport where the same question, "who wins?", has two different answers on a betting menu. One answer counts only the 60 minutes of regulation. The other counts overtime and the shootout. This guide explains both, then covers the puck line, totals and period betting. Stake names ice hockey among its sports, with the NHL as the biggest league and European leagues alongside it.
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Regulation or overtime
Which market includes what
| Market | Overtime and shootout |
|---|---|
| 1X2, regulation | Usually not included |
| Moneyline | Usually included |
| Puck line | Usually included |
The 1X2 market, sometimes called regulation time or 60-minute betting, has three outcomes: home win, draw, away win. If the score is level after three periods, the draw wins, whatever happens in overtime. Because a draw is possible, the prices on both teams are longer than on the moneyline.
The moneyline asks who wins the game, usually including overtime and the shootout; check the market rules. There's no draw. The prices are shorter, because you're covered if your team wins late.
Neither is better. They answer different questions. The mistake to avoid is backing a team in the 1X2 market, watching them win in overtime, and then finding the bet lost because the game was tied after 60 minutes.
Puck line
The favorite gives 1.5 goals. Empty-net goals late in games often decide it.
The puck line is hockey's version of the spread. The favorite at minus 1.5 must win by two or more goals. The underdog at plus 1.5 wins the bet if it wins or loses by one. Because hockey is low scoring and many games end by one goal, the puck line changes prices a lot. A heavy favorite on the moneyline can be close to even money on the puck line.
Late in a close game, the trailing team often pulls its goalie for an extra skater. That leads to empty-net goals, which turn many one-goal games into two-goal games. Those goals are why the puck line on a favorite lands more often than you might expect from the regulation score, and why plus 1.5 bets on the underdog sometimes slip away in the final minute.
Shootouts
In the NHL regular season, a game tied after overtime goes to a shootout. For settlement, a shootout win usually adds one goal to the winning team's score. That can matter for the puck line and the total. A game that's 2 to 2 after overtime and won in the shootout usually settles as 3 to 2. Check Stake's rules, because the treatment of shootout goals in totals can differ.
Playoff games have no shootout. Overtime continues until someone scores, which can take a long time and push totals over.
Totals and periods
Totals are an over and under on combined goals, often around 5.5 or 6.5 in the NHL. Lines may include overtime and shootouts, or not, depending on the market. Period markets let you bet on a single period: the winner of the first period, or goals in the second. Each period stands alone. See our over and under guide for how lines and pushes work.
Goalies
The starting goalie is one of the biggest factors in a hockey price. Teams often confirm starters close to game time, and backups start more often on back-to-back nights. A change in goalie can move the line. Your bet usually stands at the price you took, whoever starts, unless Stake's rules for that market say otherwise.
A worked example
Made-up game: Team A is 1.65 on the moneyline, 2.10 in the 1X2, and 2.60 on the puck line at minus 1.5. The game is 2 to 2 after 60 minutes. A scores in overtime and wins 3 to 2. The moneyline bet wins. The 1X2 bet on A loses, because the draw won. The puck line bet loses, because A won by one. Three bets on the same team, one winner.
Live hockey
Hockey moves quickly, and in-play prices react to goals, penalties and power plays. Markets suspend during reviews and around goals. Read our live betting guide and set your stake before puck drop.
Related
Handicap betting and over and under cover the math. If you're used to soccer, our football guide explains the similar regulation-time rule there.
Back-to-backs and travel
NHL teams often play on consecutive nights, sometimes in different cities. The second game of a back-to-back usually means a tired team and, often, a backup goalie. Prices already account for the schedule, but it helps explain why a strong team can be shorter than usual one night and longer the next. Long road trips and time zone changes are part of the same picture.
European leagues tend to have fewer markets and less public information than the NHL. Some also use different overtime formats, so check the market rules for each league rather than assuming the NHL rules apply.
Keeping it in proportion
The NHL schedule is long and busy, with games most nights through the season. Pick the games you follow, treat every bet as money you can lose, and if you're chasing losses, stop and read our responsible gambling page.
FAQ
Does a shootout count as a goal?
Usually one goal for the winning team. Stake's sports rules confirm it.
Which leagues are covered?
The NHL and others.
Is live hockey betting available?
Yes, often.
Why did my bet lose when my team won?
You probably bet the regulation 1X2 market and the game was tied after 60 minutes. The moneyline usually includes overtime.