NHL Odds

Understanding NHL Odds: How to Read NHL Betting Lines

NHL odds (often called Vegas odds) are not probabilities — they are a price. Sportsbooks accept money on both outcomes of a matchup. Favorites pay less; underdogs pay more. If you want to profit from the team expected to win, you need to risk a little more to make it worth the bookies’ time. On the other side, they offer a modest reward for backing the underdog. 

There are two ways we present NHL odds tonight at Dimers:

• American Odds: This is the default for sportsbooks based in the United States. American odds represent how much money you have to bet in order to win $100 on a favorite and an underdog. A minus in front of the number equals a favorite, and a plus sign equals an underdog. Let’s say the Florida Panthers are -155 and the Edmonton Oilers are +125. If you bet $100 on the Panthers to win, you’d get your $100 back plus $55 profit, but you staked more than you won. Whereas if you bet $100 on the Oilers, you’d get your $100 back plus $125 profit. 

• Decimal Odds: The most common system for representing bets in Canada is the decimal system. This shows how much the sportsbook will pay out for every $1 you wager. If the Panthers are 1.64, you earn 64 cents profit for every $1 you stake. Whereas if the Oilers are 2.25, you get your original $1 back, plus $1.25 profit. A simple way to interpret decimal odds is to multiply your bet by the price offered to see your potential return.  

Remember, sportsbooks build a small commission into their odds so they can profit no matter which side wins. This commission is known as “the vig” (short for vigorish) or “the juice.”

Learn more in our how to read betting odds guide, then dive deeper into our NHL odds guide. 

NHL Vegas Odds: A Benchmark in Sports Betting

NHL Vegas odds have long been the standard in sports betting. While online betting has become more widespread, many bettors still refer to "NHL Vegas odds" as a benchmark for comparison, whether betting online or in person. On our site, you'll find NHL odds and lines that align with what you'd typically see in a Las Vegas sportsbook.

How Does Dimers Find the Best Odds for NHL?

Our NHL betting models monitor the major North American sportsbooks and list all their Vegas odds in one convenient location. The NHL odds table for tonight’s games featured above makes it quicker and easier to compare Vegas odds from various bookmakers for moneyline, puck line, and total goals (over/under) NHL bets. 

You can search by NHL betting line, state, and odds type (American or decimal), then click straight through to the line and sportsbook of your choice. Our model does the hard work for you and compares all lines against each other, then marks the best odds with a 🏆 emoji—so you can quickly and easily identify the most valuable price on offer.

Popular NHL Odds Tonight Markets

Most sportsbooks cover three major NHL Vegas odds markets.

• Moneyline (H2H odds): the outright winner out of the two teams. Moneyline bets exclusively list the odds for the favorite and the odds against the underdog.

• Puck line (NHL spread): a handicap that bets the favorite will win by a certain number of goals, or that the underdog will lose by fewer goals (or win outright). Puck lines show the favorite as -X and the underdog as +X (e.g., -1.5/+1.5). For example, the Panthers would be -1.5 favorites, and the Oilers would be +1.5 underdogs. This means the Panthers need to win by 2 goals or more for the bet to pay out, and if the Oilers lose by 1 goal or win, the bet is a success. Puck lines almost always include a half-goal (.5) to avoid ties. 

• Total Goals (over/under): the total number of goals scored by both teams (most sportsbooks include OT goals). The total looks similar to a puck line, except it represents all goals scored in the contest. For example, if the Panthers and Oilers' over/under is set at 5.5, "over" means six or more total goals, while "under" means five or fewer. 

How to Bet on NHL Odds Tonight

• Compare Moneyline Prices: Even a small difference in moneyline odds can add up over a season. For example, if the Boston Bruins are -150 at one sportsbook and -135 at another, that’s an extra $15 for every $100 bet—little savings that stack up across multiple games.

• Spot Puck Line Variations: Puck lines can vary slightly between books. One site might offer Detroit Red Wings -1.5 at -110, and another site might mark them as -1.5 at -105. Over the course of the NHL season, these little bargains can significantly affect your return on investment.

• Shop for the Best Total: The total goals line can be decisive in over/under bets. A 5.5 vs. 6 total line might mean the difference between a win, loss, or push. Comparing totals across sportsbooks helps you find the edge before placing your bet.

Learn other methods of hockey wagering success in our NHL betting strategies guide.

Explore Our Full Suite of NHL Betting Tools

Our NHL Vegas odds for tonight allow you to instantly assess the major hockey odds across the top sportsbooks. For more in-depth betting insights, explore our complete range of NHL betting tools:

• NHL Predictions: Data-powered predictions for the outright winner of every NHL game.

• NHL Best Bets: High-value wagers identified by our model with an edge over the odds.

• NHL Best Props: Data-backed recommendations on player performance and game props.

• NHL Picks: Our model’s selections on winners and totals for every game.

• NHL Trends: Historical patterns to guide smarter bets.

• NHL Parlays: Model-assisted multi-leg slips for combining markets.

• NHL Futures: Model-driven insights for the NHL playoff odds and Stanley Cup odds.

• NHL News: Stay informed with expert previews and breakdowns before the puck drops.

Unlock full access to all NHL betting insights by joining Dimers Pro.

Responsible Gambling for NHL

Odds are, if you’re chasing a loss, you need to take a step back from betting. Dimers advocates responsible gambling by setting deposit and wager limits and seeking assistance if your betting is a problem.