NHL Betting Guide | NHL Lines & Odds 2022-23
A fast-paced game with endless end-to-end action, hockey is always a fun watch. Getting a bet in on an NHL game only adds to the thrill. And New Jersey bettors now have plenty of options when it comes to betting on the National Hockey League.
If you’re more accustomed to betting on football or basketball, there are some slight differences in hockey betting you’ll want to take note of. But before the puck drops, getting a few bucks down on any NHL team is pretty simple - especially since you can grab your iPhone or laptop and bet with an NJ online sportsbook.
NHL Odds 2022-23
The NHL awarded the 2022 Stanley Cup championship to the Colorado Avalanche, who defeated the reigning back-to-back champion Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two. What does that mean for 2022-23 NHL odds? The oddsmakers have the Avalanche again as one of the favorites but the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Lightning are right in the mix as well.
Check our live feed for NHL odds at the top NJ sportsbooks. Click on the odds to go directly to the sportsbook, claim your bonus, and set up an account. See the second tab for current futures odds for the 2023 Stanley Cup.
Bet on NHL in NJ
In New Jersey, you have several options when it comes to betting on hockey. Here are a few things to remember:
- You must be at least 21 years of age or older.
- You must be located within the state when making a bet; however, you don’t have to be a resident.
- From anywhere, in or outside NJ, you can access odds, matchups, and all other betting information.
- You can sign up and fund a sports betting account from wherever.
- Also, you can cash out of a wager early.
NHL live betting (in play wagering)
Players looking for even more action may want to check out live betting (also known as in-game wagering). Most NJ online sportsbooks offer this feature, which allows you to have more action on the line throughout a game.
Typical live betting options include:
- Totals
- Puck line
- Next goal scored
- Bets available during the first and second intermission.
Bettors often look to hedge their bets or double-down on pregame bets as the game plays out. Savvy players will alter their wagering patterns during live betting by paying attention to:
- Scoring leaders
- Defensive strength
- Time of possession
- Injuries
- The proven ability of one team to close out games
- A team’s chance of holding the lead
Best NHL betting apps New Jersey
There are nearly two dozen online sportsbooks and betting apps to choose from in the Garden State.
Many offer some excellent incentive bonuses and bonus bets to new customers. Here are a few of the best New Jersey sportsbooks to check out:
- DraftKings Sportsbook NJ: DraftKings is a major daily fantasy sports (DFS) site that’s also one of the leaders in real-money online sports betting. DraftKings offers legal sports betting in NJ through its partnership with Resorts Casino in Atlantic City.
- FanDuel Sportsbook NJ: FanDuel is another leading DFS site, which made the transition to legal sports betting in NJ. FanDuel is partners with the Meadowlands Racetrack where it runs a retail sportsbook.
- BetMGM Sportsbook NJ: This is a product of MGM Resorts International, which has decades of sports betting experience in Nevada. The sportsbook is licensed through its Borgata property in Atlantic City.
How to read NHL odds & lines
For the most part, betting on hockey is rather straightforward. Most of the standard bets are comparable to those in football, basketball, and other mainstream sports.
But there are some unique bets to hockey that add some intrigue. If you like watching the action unfold on the ice, adding a live, in-game bet can amp things up even more.
Obviously, there are several retail sportsbooks at casinos and racetracks in NJ where you can bet in-person. However, online and mobile sports betting offers a new level of convenience.
You can lay a puck line bet (or any wager) down on the NJ Devils (or any NHL team) 24/7 from anywhere within the state. Using an app, you can cash out and deposit with the tap of a button. Also, playing around with your betting slip, odds boosts or parlays to max out your payouts is super easy.
Our guide can get you started with NHL betting with a look at:
- Teams: A quick look at NHL franchises in and around NJ.
- Moneyline Bets: Learn how to place a traditional NHL bet on the winner only.
- Puck Line Betting: We explain another popular bet that brings in point spreads to hockey.
- Totals (Over/Under): Read on about bets based on the total goals scored in a game.
- Parlays: Learn how to bet on multiple outcomes in which all must come through to win.
- Futures: You can place a bet on a future event such as the Stanley Cup champion, MVP, conference winner, etc.
- Live (In Game or In Play) Betting: This type of wager adds more excitement while the game is in progress.
Bet on NHL teams in or near NJ
New Jersey hockey fans have a few local teams to watch. NJ boasts one NHL team - an iconic NHL franchise in its own right - but there are teams in neighboring states that draw lots of local fan support, too.
Bet on the New Jersey Devils
A clear home-state favorite, the New Jersey Devils, based in Newark, play their home games in the Prudential Center. The Devils were founded in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts. The franchise then played as the Colorado Rockies from 1976-82. The team traditionally plays in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference.
Here are a few franchise highlights:
- Nine division titles
- Five conference championships
- Three Stanley Cup titles (1994-95, 1999-00, 2002-03)
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Bet on the New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are one of the NHL’s "Original Six” franchises that played for 25 years, from 1942-67, before the significant expansion of the NHL began. The team was founded in 1926. The Rangers play home games in Manhattan at the historic Madison Square Garden as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference.
Numerous hall-of-famers have played, coached or managed for the franchise.
Some franchise highlights include:
- Seven division titles
- Two conference championships
- Four Stanley Cup titles (1927-28, 1932-33, 1939-40, 1993-94)
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Bet on the Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers entered the league in 1967 and, with its Philly home, draws plenty of fans in southern NJ.
The team plays home games at the Wells Fargo Center as a Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference member. The Flyers aren’t short on franchise success, either.
Here are a few Flyers highlights:
- 16 division titles
- Eight conference championships
- Two Stanley Cup titles (1973-74, 1974-75)
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More NHL betting options in NJ
Along with these classic NHL teams, there are also several NHL teams in neighboring states that make it worth checking the lines. These teams offer some solid betting possibilities if you're an NJ bettor who follows the NHL regularly:
- New York Islanders
- Buffalo Sabres
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Boston Bruins
NHL betting lines
Unlike betting on NFL football or some other sports, betting on hockey usually involves using the moneyline.
For a typical moneyline wager, you only have to pick the winning team in a game. Payouts are adjusted depending on the odds of the matchup.
So, in hockey, you only pick the winning team no matter the margin of victory. In a moneyline bet, there will always be a favorite and an underdog. Payouts adjust on which team you select.
For example, in a matchup between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers, the book may list the following:
- New Jersey +140
- New York -110
This minus sign means the Rangers are favored and you have to risk $110 to win $100. A plus sign indicates the underdog Devils require you to produce $100 for a $140 bet.
A wager on the underdog brings bettors more money than a bet on the favorite. Just head to your favorite sports betting app to make your pick.
Puck line betting
The puck line wager offers you another attractive bet with the potential for some solid returns. The puck line (similar to the run line in baseball) is usually set at 1.5 and is a version of point spread betting applied to hockey.
In a typical hockey game, one or two goals usually determine a final score. When making a puck line bet, you are deciding whether a team can win by two goals or more. The typical 1.5 puck line can move as high as 2.5 depending on the teams playing. A weak team playing a high-octane offensive opponent might see the puck line move up.
As an example of a puck line bet, let’s consider a matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils.
- The Flyers may be -1.5 (+200)
- The Devils may be at +1.5 (-220)
A $100 wager on the favored Flyers would earn you $200 if they win by two or more goals.
On the other hand, you will have to risk $220 on the Devils to return $100. If New Jersey wins or loses by only a single goal, you would cash a win.
Puck line wagers offer extra incentives for picking a winner, especially when selecting a favorite. Just cross your fingers for that two-goal win.
Betting on NHL totals (Over/Under)
Totals bets are traditional NHL wagers based on the total number of goals scored between two teams. This is similar to totals wagers that are popular in other sports, e.g., football.
When placing this bet, you’re merely choosing whether the total goals will go over or under.
For example, a game between the Flyers and the Islanders might be set at a total of 5.5.
A 3-2 win by the Flyers would reward under bettors with a win because the total score in the game was only 5.
A 4-2 Islanders win would pay the over bettors instead because the total goals scored reached above the total for the game.
The over and under lines can move depending on the action on either side. Sportsbooks aim to even out the action on both teams, so they don’t have too much liability on one side.
The books make money by ideally taking a percentage of the total betting, known as the vig or "juice.”
Betting the over and under can be good wagers if you have some insight on a team's offensive or defensive strengths. Being realistic about likely goal totals always helps. Offensive trends can help in this regard as well.
Betting NHL parlays
Like in other sports, parlays can offer a fun way to sweat multiple games. In a parlay, you select multiple "legs” on one wager.
To cash a winner, all those selections must win. If you lose on just one and the whole bet is lost.
However, hitting on a parlay can pay much higher odds than wagering on a single game or outcome. The odds paid out will depend on the number of legs selected.
For example, you might make a parlay wager on the Panthers, Devils and Sabres. If all those teams win, you could earn as high as 6-1 for that wager, depending on the odds in each matchup.
A $100 bet would get back $600, which is quite a score.
Parlays can be on two teams or up to 10-12. Along with simply selecting teams, you can also mix in totals. Some books allow mixing in other sports to make it more interesting.
The extra payout can be nice, but it can also be challenging. Variance and the difficulty in correctly picking so many games make it a challenging wager.
Bet on NHL futures
Reading the future for your favorite NHL team isn’t easy. But that’s what makes NHL futures so much fun. These bets offer hockey fans a good sweat throughout the whole season.
When making an NHL futures wager, you’re betting on an outcome to be determined later in the season. Since it's the furthest away and hardest to pick, the most money in NHL futures betting goes toward who will win the Stanley Cup title.
Books will offer odds on all 32 teams to win the championship with varying odds based on each team’s talent as well as action placed on certain teams.
If the Tampa Bay Lightning are the odds-on favorite to win the Cup before the season and NJ sportsbooks have the odds for the team to win the Cup at +750 or 7.5/1, then a $100 bet on the Lightning would pay a bettor $750 if Tampa Bay finishes as the NHL champion. A wager on the Winnipeg Jets at +2800 would pay a bettor 28-1, a return of $2,800 on a $100 bet.
Despite going into the playoffs as a favorite, the Lightning could get bounced in the first round, which would leave many bettors disappointed. But that’s the fun in futures wagering - some unexpected teams might surprise you and pay out in nice dividends.
The St. Louis Blues went on a scintillating run through the second half of the 2018-19 NHL season to go from last place in January to Stanley Cup champions.
One bettor took advantage that year when he put a $400 bet down in Vegas on the the Blues at +25000 or 250-1. When the Blues did the unexpected and won the Cup, he collected $100,400.
You will find many more NHL futures opportunities beyond the Stanley Cup. That includes odds on some of the following:
- Division/Conference winners.
- Over/unders for points in the standings for individual teams.
- Regular-season point totals for individual players.
- Team-leading scorers.
- The postseason awards, which include the Art Ross, Selke and Vezina
trophies.
How to stream NHL games live in NJ
NHL bettors and fans can follow the action on television and online. National games of interest are regularly played on the ESPN, TNT and the NHL Network.
Those looking to stream games online can head to NHL.com and purchase an NHL.tv plan to watch their favorite teams. Plans run $144.95 for the entire NHL season or $24.99 per month.
Some streaming services also carry regional sports channels showing NHL games. Some of those include Fubo TV, which carries the MSG Channel.
This channel airs games from the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and Sabres. NBC Sports Philadelphia is also available on Fubo for Flyers fans.
NHL betting FAQ
A puck line bet is usually set at 1.5. It is a version of point spread betting that is applied to hockey. You are deciding whether a favorite can win by two goals or more. They can also pick an underdog and whether it will lose by less than two.
Goalies are extremely important in hockey. They can get hot and lift a team to unexpected wins. Also, with totals usually set at between 5 and 6.5, a stellar goalie can often help under bettors.
When picking an NHL game, all games use the moneyline. Simply, you are picking one team to win. Payouts are adjusted based on whether the team is a favorite or an underdog.
Eight teams in each of the Western and Eastern conferences qualify for the playoffs; 16 in all. That includes the top three teams in each of the two divisions. Two wild-card teams in each conference also qualify.
The winners play in bracket-style competition with first-round matchups determined by finish in the standings. Teams play the other advancing teams in their conference bracket.
Each series in the NHL playoffs is a best-of-seven series. The two conference champions meet in the Stanley Cup final to determine the NHL champion.
The over/under works much the same way as a totals bet in other sports. A goal total might be set at 5.5. You are simply picking whether the total goals scored will go over or under that number.
Certainly, this isn’t an exact science, but factors such as offensive and defensive ability are the first things to consider. A particularly hot scorer against a weak defense is a good example.
Hot goaltenders should also be a consideration when wagering. A goalie playing well might keep the score low. Goalies struggling might trend in the opposite direction.
Specific teams also match up better with other teams because of the roster.
If a total was set at six and the game ends 4-2, that would be a "push.” In this instance, bettors receive their money back.
Overtime goals do count toward the score in the NHL. A shootout win adds a single goal to the score, and that is also counted.
Shootout wins add a single goal to the final score, which affects betting and totals wagers.
Yes, that can be accomplished via live, or in-game, wagering. This type of betting is available on most sports betting apps and online platforms.
The odds are set by bookmakers looking at matchups. Furthermore, their goal is to even out the action on both teams. The lines can shift depending on the money put on each team.
The puck line is usually set at 1.5 and may go higher if there is a particularly strong team against a weak team.
In the NHL draft, teams select players for the potential to be on their roster eventually. Most players are allocated to minor leagues for seasoning before working their way to the NHL.
A lottery determines the draft order. Each of the 16 teams that missed the Stanley Cup playoffs have a shot at the first draft pick.
Three drawings occur:
- The first drawing determines the No. 1 selection.
- The odds for remaining teams are adjusted proportionally for the second drawing to determine the No. 2 pick.
- Odds are then adjusted for the third drawing to determine the No. 3 pick.
The teams left receive picks 4 through 16 based on inverse order of the standings. Any of the 16 teams can win the lottery, but no team can move back more than three spots.
The 2022 NHL draft is set for June 28-29 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.