Bram Welch has been writing about sports betting and iGaming for over six years. He started as a freelancer before joining our team in 2022. He has worked teaching English as a foreign language and as a journalist for the UK's largest regional newspaper.
All posts by Bram WelchWhat does -1.5 mean in hockey betting? Put simply, -1.5 hockey betting, also known as betting on the puck line, indicates who the favorite is in an ice hockey game. The team priced at -1.5 on the puck line will be the favorite to win, while the team priced at +1.5 is always the underdog.
Join us as our betting experts explain in depth everything there is to know about -1.5 in hockey betting, including how it relates to betting on the NHL and other ice hockey markets. This includes extensive research and analysis on the topic, breaking it down in simple terms. Here is everything you need to know about -1.5 hockey betting, per our dedicated SportsTalkPhilly experts.
For a better betting experience, consider using the best offshore sportsbooks, which often provide more competitive odds and a variety of betting options.
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-1.5 Hockey Betting Explained
Essentially, the puck line is the hockey version of the spread in NBA or football. In the NFL, for example, a team may be favorite to cover the spread, which could be set at 6.5 points. The process is essentially the same in hockey—only ‘the spread’ is called the puck line and is always set at 1.5 since far fewer points are scored in the NHL than in the NFL or NBA.
The moneyline favorites will always be the team at -1.5 on the puck line, with the outsiders at +1.5. This means the favorites must win the game by two clear points for the -1.5 hockey bet on the puck line to win since they are, in essence, starting the game a goal and a half down.
Similarly, if you back the underdogs on the puck line at +1.5, that bet will win if your team loses by no more than one point. It would also be deemed a winner if the match ended in a tie or if the underdogs won the game outright.
What Is The Difference Between Puck Line and Moneyline Betting?
Although puck line betting and moneyline betting sound similar, they are, in fact, completely different hockey markets. Moneyline betting is more outright betting, where you wager on the match’s outcome straight up. However, puck line betting is more of a classic European-style handicap bet, meaning the favorite starts with a goal deficit, or the underdog starts with a goal advantage.
Because of this, puck line markets often provide far better odds and more attractive prices, hence why they are, in some cases, more popular than outright moneyline betting in hockey.
If a match is seen as one-sided with one team, a big favorite on the moneyline, the concept of the puck line handicap bet makes it far more attractive for bettors. Take the Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens as an example in the screenshot below.
The Bruins are the -210 favorites on the moneyline, with the Canadiens +186 underdogs. However, the puck line has the Bruins at -1.5 at +115 and the Canadiens at +1.5 priced at -135. This is a prime example of the difference between puck line and moneyline betting.
Although the Boston Bruins are considered the overriding favorites on the moneyline, they are less likely to win on the puck line, according to the best US sportsbooks. Thus, backing the Bruins on the puck line is a far more appealing bet than a straight-up moneyline wager if you want a bigger potential payout.
How Much Can You Win On a -1.5 Hockey Bet?
As with any bet, gamblers want to know how much they can win. Of course, this depends on many variables, such as the price of the selection and the initial outlay.
The same can be said when considering -1.5 hockey betting or puck line betting in general. The amount you can win on a -1.5 hockey bet depends on your stake and the price of your chosen selection.
Again, betting on the puck line will give gamblers better odds on the favorite than outright moneyline betting. However, the caveat to that is that the favorites must then win by two goals or more for your -1.5 hockey bet to be deemed a winner.
Your stake and the odds on the selection determine the potential winnings on your -1.5 hockey bet.
A -1.5 Hockey Bet Will Be On The Favorite
As previously mentioned, -1.5 hockey betting is one of the most popular markets for betting on the NHL. All of the best NHL betting sites offer prices on the puck line in hockey, whether that means -1.5 for the favorite or +1.5 for the underdog.
The outright moneyline favorite is the team that is -1.5 on the puck line. This means that no matter the team or the odds, a -1.5 hockey bet will always be on the favorite.
In essence, the favorites are handicapped by 1.5 goals in a game—hence why they are -1.5 on the puck line. This means the favorites must win by two or more goals for the -1.5 hockey bet to be deemed a winner.
Win by one goal, draw, or even lose the game, and the -1.5 hockey puck line bet is a losing selection. It is worth remembering that if you are struggling to understand who the favorites are to win a match or if the odds are fairly even, the favorites will be the team that is -1.5 on the puck line.
What Is The Opposite Of A -1.5 Hockey Bet?
On the flip side of a -1.5 hockey bet is, of course, +1.5 on the puck line. As we have explained in detail on this page, the team priced at -1.5 on the puck line is the favorite. This, of course, means that on the opposite side of the coin, the team priced at +1.5 on the puck line is the underdog.
Puck line betting often provides bettors with better value, whether betting on the favorite or the outsider. Placing a +1.5 hockey bet means betting on the underdog in a puck line handicap bet.
For the bet to win on the +1.5 team on the puck line, that team must either win the game or lose by no more than one goal. Should they lose by two or more, the bet is deemed a loser, and the -1.5 hockey bet would be a winner for the opposing team.
However, should the underdogs lose by just one goal or even win the game outright, all +1.5 hockey bets will be deemed winners.
For example, in the screenshot below, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, and Philadelphia Flyers are all underdogs. This is because they are the +1.5 team on the puck line.
Say the Lightning beat the New York Rangers outright, the +1.5 hockey bet is a winner. If the Sabres drew with the New York Islanders in normal time but won over time, the bet is a winner. Even if the Flyers lost by just one goal to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the +1.5 hockey bet is a winner.
What Is A Puck Line Bet?
As previously mentioned, a puck line bet is simply hockey’s version of the point spread. Like spread betting in basketball or football, the puck line is hockey’s version.
When betting on major sports such as the NFL, MLB, or NBA, bettors are typically presented with three standard wagering options: the spread, the moneyline, and the over/under points total.
Hockey is no different, only their version of the spread is called the puck line. You can still bet the spread in ice hockey, but it’s generally not referred to by that name, rather the puck line or simply +-1.5.
The puck line is the term for the spread betting option in a hockey game. Because hockey is so low-scoring, the puck line is -1.5 goals for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. The juice on each side varies depending on how even the teams are.
Depending on which side of the puck line you have wagered, the favorite must win by two goals, and the underdog can either win the game outright or lose by one goal.
This means bettors can take the favorite at an increased payout rather than straight on the moneyline or increase the likelihood of winning their underdog bet with the +1.5 puck line.
The Advantages Of Puck Line Betting?
Like anything in betting, there are plenty of positives and a list of negatives. Puck line betting is no different.
One of the biggest and most prominent advantages of puck line betting is getting better odds. Sometimes, betting on the favorite straight on the moneyline isn’t worthwhile, especially if they are quite a handsome favorite.
However, betting on the puck line means you can back the favorite at an increased payout. The same can be said about betting on the underdog, as the +1.5 puck line on the outsider increased the likelihood of the underdog.
Another advantage of puck line betting is that it evens up one-sided games. If the top teams in the NHL are playing the worst team, they will be overriding favorites on the moneyline with the sportsbooks. However, the puck line means the game is evened out more, tightening the odds and making it more interesting for bettors looking to wager on the NHL.
The fact the underdog or team +1.5 on the puck line has a goal cushion is another advantage. This means that the underdogs begin the match a goal up if you like if you are backing the +1.5 on the puck line.
This means that even if they lose the game by one goal, your +1.5 puck line bet is still a winner.
It is worth noting that this is only the case for the outsiders, though. Betting on the favorites at -1.5 on the puck line doesn’t give you the one-goal cushion luxury. Betting on the favorites on the puck line, in essence, means they start the game a goal down due to being -1.5 on the puck line.
Key Puck Line Betting Advantages
- Better odds
- Evens up one-sided games
- Goal cushion on the underdog
- Bet is not necessarily a loser, even if your team loses
Can You Bet On More Than One Puck Line With Parlay Bets?
In short, yes. Parlay bets can be made on the puck line. Whether it’s two teams or ten teams, betting on more than one puck line is certainly an option.
Of course, placing parlay bets is one way of enhancing your odds and potential winnings. The more selections in your parlay, the better the odds and the bigger the potential winnings.
However, parlays do come with a lot of risk, too, as they require multiple selections to come to fruition. The same can be said for puck line parlays. Although betting on the moneyline is the most popular form of hockey bet, puck lines are also popular.
Placing a puck line parlay bet is the same as placing any other parlay. Add your selection to your bet slip and place your parlay bet.
The example below shows four different puck line bets from four different NHL games, all in one parlay. As this is a four-legged parlay, the odds are rather appealing. As you can see below, adding puck line singles into one big parlay will really enhance your odds.
In this case, the four-team parlay yields odds of +6554. So yes, you can bet on more than one puck line with parlay bets. Just like any parlay, the odds are greater, but so too is the risk.
Puck Line Strategies, Tips & Hints
After going in-depth on puck line betting, -1.5 hockey betting, and +1.5 hockey betting, we thought it best to provide some final hints, tips, and strategies for betting on the puck line.
Do Your Research
One of the most obvious tips for puck line betting is to do your research. No matter what sport you are considering betting on, ensure you have researched and can back up your picks with statistics and facts to strengthen your case. Rather than just having a hunch.
In hockey, this could mean researching form, head-to-head record, home/away form, and injuries. Team news, previous results, and whether or not your chosen team covered the puck line could also be factors to consider when researching puck line bets.
It is vitally important to do your research before placing your -1.5 hockey bets or any puck line bets.
Consider Overtime & Empty Net Goals
Another strategy for puck line betting is to consider different avenues. For instance, it could be worth your while considering the possibility of overtime or empty net goals in your selected NFL match that you have placed a puck line bet on.
Empty net goals (ENG) usually occur in hockey when there is either a delayed penalty or in the final minutes of a game. These are really the only two occasions where an empty net goal might happen in ice hockey.
ENGs are worth considering when wagering on the puck line because, usually, if a team is within two goals, they might ‘pull the goalie.’ Thus, the net is left defenseless for an extra attacker to have a better chance of scoring to either tie or get within one goal.
Teams will take this risk more often than not, knowing that thousands of bettors will have bet on the puck line. This isn’t the only reason, of course, but trying to tie the game or lose by one goal rather than two is certainly a better look.
Similarly, overtime is an avenue worth considering when betting on puck lines. Teams will be more inclined to go for it over time, thus having a greater bearing on puck line prices.
Shop Around For The Best Price
Just because you are loyal to one sportsbook and have been using it for your entire betting life doesn’t mean that it is the best bookmaker for you. Regarding puck line betting, you want the best value for money.
Shopping around for the best price means earning more winnings should your selection win. So, if you are backing the Edmonton Oilers -1.5 on the puck line with Bovada at +185, but BetOnline is offering odds of +205 for the exact same bet, it would be worth placing your wager with BetOnline.
The same can be said for any sport. Most sportsbooks have similar prices, but shopping around and checking who has the best odds on your selected market could earn you some extra cash.
Furthermore, some sportsbooks might have refund terms or other offers should your selection be lost. For example, some US sites with the best sportsbook promo codes will offer money back if your team doesn’t manage to cover the puck line. Shop around to find the best NHL promos.
Utilize Parlays For Increased Odds
Another tip for puck line betting is wagering on more than one selection. Depending on how many selections you make in one individual event, this increases your chances of winning.
Take puck line betting in hockey, for example. The more selections you have made, the more likely you are to have selected the winner. However, there is, of course, more risk as you need multiple selections to win rather than just one in a puck line parlay.
Utilizing parlays in puck line betting means you can win big. Yes, the probability of winning a parlay decreases for every added selection, but puck line parlays are certainly popular.
Best Tips For Puck Line Betting
In conclusion, here are some of the best puck line betting tips to consider:
- Do your research
- Consider overtime & empty net goals
- Shop around for the best price
- Use puck line parlays for increased odds
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