What is a puck line in hockey? NHL puck line explained
A puck line is the NHL point spread: the favorite is listed at -1.5 goals and the underdog at +1.5. The favorite must win by 2 or more goals for a -1.5 ticket to win, while a +1.5 ticket wins if that team wins or loses by exactly 1 goal.
Updated November 7, 2026, 3:35 PM ET. Source: ESPN.
How the puck line works
- -1.5 (favorite): the team must win by 2 or more goals.
- +1.5 (underdog): the team can lose by 1 goal and still cover, or win outright.
- Price: each side carries its own odds, so the puck line is not the same price as the money line.
- Empty-net goals: goals scored late into an empty net count toward the final margin.
Worked example from tonight's NHL slate
ESPN lists DraftKings for Penguins at Kings on Nov 7, 2026 with the Kings at -122 on the money line and the Penguins at +102, and a listed spread of -1.5 for Los Angeles. Pittsburgh is 5-9-2 and Los Angeles is 5-7-2 on ESPN's standings. On the money line, -122 implies about 55.0% and +102 about 49.5%, which adds to 104.5%: the extra 4.5 points is the juice.
| | Kings | Penguins | |---|---|---| | Money line (DraftKings via ESPN) | -122 | +102 | | Implied chance | 55.0% | 49.5% | | Puck line | -1.5 | +1.5 |
These numbers describe how the market is built. They say nothing about who will win.
Research it yourself
- NHL hit rates for every player
- NHL hit rates today
- Tonight's games
- Penguins vs Kings tonight: time, TV, injuries and key stats
- What is a hockey money line?
- What is a point spread?
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21+. Research, not picks: this page explains terms and shows lines as listed by ESPN. It is not a prediction. If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FAQ
What is a puck line in hockey? The NHL point spread: the favorite is -1.5 goals and the underdog +1.5.
What does +1.5 mean on the puck line? The underdog covers if it wins, or loses by exactly 1 goal.
Is the puck line different from the money line? Yes. The money line picks only the winner, while the puck line adds the 1.5-goal margin and carries its own price.