NHL Betting Odds

The fastest game on ice stokes plenty of passion here in NY. Whether you’re a fan of the New York-based NHL teams like the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, or Buffalo Sabres or of nearby clubs the Philadelphia Flyers or New Jersey Devils, there’s plenty to bet on.

Now that legal sports betting is a thing in NY, NHL odds are a hot commodity. Check below for the best NHL odds at the top online sportsbooks in the Empire State.

How to bet on the NHL online in NY

You can be ready to bet at a legal online sportsbook in NY in just a few minutes. Just follow the below steps and you’ll be all set to bet in the NHL.

  • Click our links to claim the sign-up offer.
  • Follow the prompts and enter your info.
  • Create your account.
  • Make a deposit and get ready to bet.

You can take care of the whole process at your convenience right from your computer or device. To place bets, you must be within state lines. The legal shops will verify that you are with geolocation tracking.

Best NHL betting apps in NY 

Rank
Sportsbooks
Bonus
Features
Play
1
Bet $5
Get $150
In Bonus Bets
FanDuel Sportsbook Review
  • Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins
  • PLUS Get 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
  • Available on Desktop, Android & iOS
  • Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
2
Around the Clock Odds
Use Bonus Code: PLAYNY
BETMGM Sportsbook Review
  • Redeem BETMGM Rewards
  • Free Live Streaming - Watch Live Games
  • 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
  • Use Bonus Code: PLAYNY
3
Bet $5
Get $50
In Bonus Bets
Fanatics Sportsbook Review
  • Bet $5, Get $50 in Bonus Bets
  • Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
  • 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
  • To Claim: Click Play Now

Once your online sportsbook account is all set up with a legal shop, you’ll find that they all have apps that you can take with you on the go.

You can do all of the same things on the app as you can online, including betting on moneyline, puck line, totals, 60-minute line, parlay, grand salami, futures, prop and live in-game hockey betting.

After you’ve followed the steps above to get set up, download the app for your iOS or Android device directly from the sportsbook website. Once that’s done, login on mobile for the first time and put the app through its paces. So which apps are best? Here are the ones to keep on your shortlist along with their best feature for NHL betting.

NHL live betting and apps

NHL live betting takes NHL game viewing to the next level by allowing you to bet on games you’re watching at odds that change with the action on the ice.

It’s mostly betting on the same lines you bet on pregame at changing odds, but there’s an increased number of props too. It’s a fast, fun, and exciting way to bet on the NHL, but it’s hard to do without a mobile sports betting app. That’s because the lines change so fast, mobile sports betting apps are the only way to get a bet down quick enough.

Just click on one of the sportsbook links on our top list. Download and install that sportsbook’s mobile app using the download link for Android or iOS devices. Then, register for an account, make a deposit and you’ll be able to live bet NHL games.

Best places to bet on NHL in-person in NY

The convenience of being able to bet on the NHL online in a completely legal and safe fashion is really tough to beat. However, the in-person experience at a retail sportsbook can also be lots of fun. Here’s where to go in NY.

  • Sticks Sportsbook & Grill at Akwesasne Mohawk Casino & Resort – Hogansburg, NY 
  • DraftKings Sportsbook at del Lago Casino & Resort – Waterloo, NY
  • The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Point Place Casino – Bridgeport, NY
  • Sportsbook 360 at Resorts Wolrd Catskills – Monticello, NY
  • Rivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino & Resort – Schenectady, NY
  • FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort – Nichols, NY
  • The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Turning Stone Resort Casino – Verona, NY
  • The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Yellow Brick Road Casino – Chittenango, NY

NHL Betting partnerships in NY

The Madison Square Garden Company, the owner of the New York Rangers, has partnership deals in place with DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how those deals evolve as legal sports betting continues to grow across NY. The New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres have yet to officially ink any deals, but there’s a good chance we’ll see more partnerships in the future.

Bet on Rangers / Islanders / Sabres

Want to bet on the New York-based NHL teams? Here’s a little about each of the three teams based in New York state and their current prospects:

New York Rangers

New York Rangers are one of the NHL’s Original Six teams. The Rangers play home games at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

The team won Stanley Cups in 1928, 1933, and 1940. They struggled for the next 20 years but enjoyed a renaissance in the 1970s, where they made the Stanley Cup finals twice and lost.

The Rangers returned to glory winning their fourth Stanley Cup in 1994, led by captain Mark Messier. They struggled again through the early 2000s but became competitive again when goaltender Henrik Lundqvist came aboard. The Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014, but lost and have been rebuilding since then.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders have been in Uniondale, New York since the early 1970s. The Islanders still play home games at Nassau Coliseum there, but the team is expected to move into the newly constructed $1.5 billion UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, next to the Belmont Park race track, in 2021.

The Islanders made the playoffs for 14 straight years starting with the team’s third season. They won four consecutive Stanley Cups between 1980 and 1983. Those teams were all led by Hockey Hall of Famers Al Arbour, Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bill Torrey, and Bryan Trottier.

The Islanders have struggled ever since, although a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 provided new hope for the future.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have been in the NHL since 1970. The Sabres have played home games at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY since 1996 and the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium before then.

Two Sabres teams have made the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and the Dallas Stars in 1999. That makes the Sabres the longest active NHL franchise to have never won a Stanley Cup, along with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Sabres haven’t made the playoffs in almost a decade but young stars Jack Quinn and Jack Eichel show promise.

How to read NHL betting lines

New York Islanders supporters
(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

A typical NHL betting line at BetMGM Sportsbook might look like this:

  • New York Rangers -1.5 (+120) -135 O 5.5 (-130)
  • New York Islanders +1.5 (-140) +115 U 5.5 (+110)

The first set of numbers you find is the puckline, which works just like the point spread bet that you’ll find in other sports.  Next up are the moneyline and totals, both of which attract plenty of action for each NHL game.

We’ll cover how the three bets work in a bit. For now, just know that these are the three main pregame bets that you’ll see listed out at legal online sportsbooks like BetMGM. When you click through on the main game listing, all of the other available markets for that contest will be front and center.

NHL Bet Types Explained

From the pregame bets to props and live betting to season-long futures bets, there are plenty of ways to get in on the action with the NHL. Here’s a look at the top ways to wager.

  • Moneyline: Just pick which side you think ill win the game. The favorite will be designated with negative odds while the digits will be positive for underdogs.
  • Puckline: You can choose the favorite minus the goals or the dog plus the number. Unlike the variable spread in other sports, the puckline is almost always set at 1.5 goals for the NHL.
  • Totals: Choose Over or Under on the estimated number of goals scored. The total is set by oddsmakers and generally ranges from 5.0 to 6.5 for NHL games.

As mentioned, the above bets will be part of the main pregame listing for NHL games. Once you click through, you’ll see additional options to consider.

  • Props: These are basically side wagers on things that may happen during the game. Many props will revolve around how the individual players will perform.
  • Alternate lines: You’ll find alternate lines available for both the puckline and totals with the odds adjusted accordingly.

Parlay betting is also available for NHL games. These are wagers in which you tie together multiple selections on the same betting slip. If you’re correct on all of your choices, you can make a great return. However, just one wrong choice means that the bet is a loser.

After the games get underway, it’s time for live betting action. NHL games are exciting enough as is, but in-play wagering can take it to a whole new level. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to get involved all game long with the odds and offerings constantly updating.

Last but not least, those who like to take a longer-term view should check out the NHL futures market.  These are season-long wagers on things like the winner of the Stanley Cup or on a team to qualify for the NHL Playoffs. If you make the right calls, futures betting can provide some lucrative returns.

Best NHL bets for beginners

If you’re just getting started betting on the NHL it’s a good idea to focus on the basics first. Here are three NHL bets we consider best bets for beginners:

1. Win in regulation

Win in regulation bets, also known as the 60-minute line, is a bet on a team to win in regulation time. That means overtime and shootout wins don’t count. It’s an alternative to the standard moneyline bet, which pays off no matter when a team posts the win.

Because it’s typically harder to win in 60-minute regulation time, you’ll get a better price on the 60-minute line than the standard moneyline. That makes the win-in-regulation bet a good way to get a better price on a big moneyline favorite, reducing the amount of cash you’ll have to lay. It’s a good bet for beginners, but one you need to be careful with since so many NHL games got to OT and this bets a loser in those, no matter who wins.

2. Stanley Cup futures

Stanley Cup futures are good bets for beginners, particularly in the offseason or early in the season. That’s because there are no true odds on favorites to win the Stanley Cup before the playoff picture is set and teams are still figuring out their identity. That means the prices are good, even on the teams who figure to be the real contenders.

Good futures prices mean the chance to win a lot for just a little when the offseason, early-season, and mid-season underdogs defy the odds to win the Stanley Cup, just like the St Louis Blues did in 2019. One fan dropped $400 on the Blues to win it all at 250-1 odds when they sat at the bottom of the standings mid-season. He won $100,000 when they turned things around and won the Stanley Cup. Even beginning NHL bettors are capable of getting lucky like that in the Stanley Cup futures market.

3. Both teams to score in regular time? No.

Picking moneyline and puck line winners require in-depth research into the teams involved in a game. However, bets against both teams scoring might not, and the odds they pay are generally better. Just look for games where one or both teams have hot starting goaltenders, or games involving teams who have been playing well defensively. You can get anywhere from +450 to +800 on a bet against both teams scoring, even in these games, making it a decent bet.

These bets are a little more advanced than the basics. However, they are bets that can be made with only basic research and offer big paydays when they come in, making them great bets for beginners.

Vegas sportsbook odds vs NHL sportsbook odds

NHL game lines will open up the same everywhere from retail sportsbooks in Upstate New York to PA and NJ online and mobile sportsbooks and swanky sportsbook lounges inside Las Vegas casinos.

However, they may be a little different by the time the puck drops in the opening faceoff.

Lines move independently, which means they might move at one sportsbook and not another, based on the amount of money bet on either side of a line at that particular sportsbook.

Local interest in local teams drives betting. That means more money is more likely to be bet on local teams at local sportsbooks, making local sportsbooks more likely to move the lines on these local teams.

That’s why, for example, the Vegas odds on the New York Rangers game may start the same as the Rangers line at your favorite NY online sportsbook, but end up different by game time.

Top NHL players from NY

New York State has produced dozens of NHL players. Here’s a look at the top ten all-time NY born NHL stat leaders, listed in order of games played:

PlayerBornGamesGoalsAssists
Mathieu Schneider1969 NYC1289223520
Todd Marchant1973 Buffalo1195186312
Dustin Brown1984 Ithaca1189301356
Joe Mullen1957 NYC1062502561
Brian Gionta1979 Rochester1026291304
Craig Conroy1971 Potsdam1009182360
Patrick Kane1988 Buffalo979392637
Nick Foligno1987 Buffalo914199270
Lee Stempniak1983 West Seneca911203266
Erik Cole1978 Oswego892265267