The Stanley Cup Final is here: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers. Whether you’re watching for the hits, the goals, or because someone in your life roped you in, you’ll hear a lot of betting talk during the broadcast. Here's how to follow along and sound like you know what you're doing (even if it’s your first time).
Puck Line = Hockey’s Version of “The Spread”
In football or basketball, you’ll hear about “the spread”—how many points a team is expected to win or lose by.
In hockey? We refer to that as the puck line, and it’s always set at 1.5 goals.
Example:
👉 Oilers -1.5 puck line → They need to win by 2 or more goals for you to win this bet.
👉 Panthers +1.5 puck line → They can lose by 1 goal or win the game for your bet to cash.
You’ll often see -110 odds on these bets. That means you’d bet $11 to win $10.
Moneyline = Pick the Winner
The simplest bet of all: Who do you think will win?
That’s a moneyline bet.
👉 Favorites have a minus (-) in front of the number (example: Oilers -150).
👉 Underdogs have a plus (+) in front of the number (example: Panthers +130).
The bigger the number after the +, the bigger the payout if they win.
The bigger the number after the -, the more you have to bet to win a smaller return.
Over/Under (aka Totals)
This one’s about total goals scored by both teams combined, including overtime and shootouts.
Example: Over/Under 5.5 goals
👉 Bet the Over if you think there will be 6 or more goals.
👉 Bet the Under if you think it’ll be 5 or fewer goals.
Most Over/Under bets will also be -110 odds.
Tip: If the game ends tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, the Over has already hit—because a winning goal in OT is guaranteed.
Parlay = Combine Bets for Bigger Payouts
Feeling bold? You can combine multiple bets into one parlay ticket.
More bets = bigger potential payout—but you have to win all of them to cash in.
Example:
Oilers moneyline (-110)
Over 5.5 goals (-110)
A $10 parlay on this combo could pay out about $26.45.
Same Game Parlay = Mix Team + Player Bets
This newer option allows you to stack bets from the same game, including prop bets (also known as player-specific bets).
Example:
Oilers to win
Over 6 goals
Connor McDavid to score a goal
These parlays offer juicy payouts, but they’re riskier because you’re counting on specific player performances as well.
Prop Bets: Shots vs. Shots on Goal
Prop bets are where things get fun—and very specific.
Shots and shots on goal are two different things:
👉 Shot on goal: A shot that would go into the net if the goalie didn’t stop it (includes actual goals).
👉 Shot: Any attempt, even if it’s blocked, misses the net, or gets deflected.
You can bet on individual player totals or team totals for either stat.
Now You’re Ready
That’s your crash course in hockey betting!
Even if you never place a bet, now you can follow the lingo and impress your friends when someone says, “I need one more shot on goal from McDavid to hit my parlay!”
