NHL Playoff Odds

The NHL playoffs take place at the business end of the hockey season as teams get serious about playing for the coveted Stanley Cup.

You can place a futures bet on the NHL playoffs at any stage of the season, or you can wait for the 16 teams to qualify before building your betting slip.

There are so many NHL playoff betting types to consider, but before we introduce them, here’s a quick explanation of how NHL playoff odds are represented.

NHL Playoff Odds Explained

If you place an NHL Playoffs bet at an American sportsbook, the odds will be given in the American format. In other words, you will see odds given as a whole number with a plus or minus attached.

The team with the positive odds is the underdog, while the team with the negative odds is the favorite. What’s more, the negative odds express how much you need to bet to win $100, while the positive odds indicate how much you stand to win from $100. An example: 

LA Kings (+165) vs. EDM Oilers (-190)

Here, the Kings are the underdogs, and the Oilers are the favorites. Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s look at the NHL playoff betting types available.

NHL Playoff Betting Types

The moneyline

This is the easiest NHL playoff bet you can place. If the Avalanche (-140) are up against the Lightning (+150) in the playoffs, pick which team you think will win outright and sit back to watch the action unfold. 

The puck line

Again, your job here is to pick the outright winner. But in a puck line bet, you also need to consider the margin of victory/defeat, with the puck line typically set at 1.5. The favorites are given a -1.5 deficit, while the underdogs are given a +1.5 headstart. So, should you bet on the favorites, they will need to win by at least two points for your puck line bet to come in. 

Totals (Over/Under)

Instead of choosing a winner, an NHL playoff totals bet enables you to predict the number of points scored on the ice. The sportsbook sets a totals line - perhaps 6.5 - and your job is to go over or under for points scored. 

Playoff props

Placing wagers on playoff props is a great way to spice up your NHL betting slip. Split into team and player props; they might include: 

Correct score (team) 

Highest scoring period (team) 

Scorer of the first goal (player) 

Will player X score at least once (player)

Futures

No matter the time of the year, you can usually place a futures bet on the NHL playoffs. For instance, if you think the Rangers will make the playoffs this season, you can back them earlier in the season for longer odds and better value. 

What’s more, when the playoff teams are set, you can look ahead to the Stanley Cup, setting your sights on the team that you think will emerge victorious at the end of the playoffs. 

Parlays

NHL playoff season is undoubtedly the best time to make parlay bets. You could make four or five selections on individual game outcomes during the playoffs, combining your selections in a single bet to improve your odds. 

Recap: NHL Playoff Odds

The NHL Playoffs take place at the most important time of the hockey season and offer sports bettors many options. We hope you’re now all set to bet on the NHL playoffs and wish you luck as you make your predictions about who will win the Stanley Cup.