Most bettors play the hockey moneyline without noticing there are two of them. One settles after overtime; the other stops the clock at 60 minutes and treats the tie as its own outcome. Knowing which is in front of you, and which fits your read, is a quiet edge most of the board skips.
The two-way moneyline
The standard moneyline is the simple one. You pick a winner, and the bet settles on the final score with overtime and the shootout included. There are only two outcomes, win or lose, because hockey always plays to a result.
The thing to know about it is parity. Hockey is low-scoring and tightly matched, so favorites win a smaller share than in most sports and underdog moneylines cash often. A live dog with a hot goalie is one of the steadier plus-money bets in sports, which is why so many of our hockey picks land on the underestimated side. For the general idea, see bet types explained.
The three-way line
The three-way line, also called the regulation or 60-minute line, throws out overtime entirely and prices only the first 60 minutes.
Now there are three outcomes: the home team wins in regulation, the away team wins in regulation, or the game is tied after 60 minutes and heads to overtime. Each is less likely than a two-way result, so each pays more, including a tie that often returns plus money on its own.
Where the value hides
The three-way line is really two bets the two-way market can’t make: backing a side to win in regulation, and backing the tie.
If you think a favorite controls play and wins in regulation, the three-way price beats the two-way moneyline, because you give up the overtime and shootout coin flip in exchange for a bigger number. And if you expect a tight, even game, the regulation tie, paying around +350, is a plus-money way to bet exactly that. Roughly one in four games gets there.
Which line to bet
Take the two-way moneyline when you simply like a team to win, especially a live underdog. Step to the three-way when your read is sharper than that: a favorite you trust to lead after 60, or an even matchup you expect to stay knotted. Convert every price with the implied probability tool and take the version that prices your actual opinion best. That is expected value in practice.
| Bet | Outcomes | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Two-way moneyline | Win or lose (OT included) | You like a winner, esp. a dog |
| 3-way: regulation side | Lead after 60 minutes | Favorite controls play |
| 3-way: the tie | Tied after 60 minutes | Even, tight matchup |
Frequently asked questions
Does the NHL moneyline include overtime?+
Yes. The standard two-way moneyline settles on the final result, overtime and shootout included, so there are only two outcomes: one team wins, the other loses. There is no tie, because the game is always played to a winner.
What is the 3-way line in hockey?+
The three-way line, also called the regulation or 60-minute line, prices only the first 60 minutes. It has three outcomes: home wins in regulation, away wins in regulation, or the game is tied after regulation. Because each is less likely than a two-way result, all three pay more.
What is the regulation tie bet worth?+
About a quarter of NHL games are tied after regulation and go to overtime, so the tie on a three-way line typically pays in the +300 to +400 range. If you expect a tight, evenly matched game, backing the regulation tie is a plus-money way to bet that read.
Why do underdogs win so often in hockey?+
Low scoring plus league parity. With few goals and tight rosters, one hot goalie or a single bounce decides games, so favorites win a smaller share than in higher-scoring sports. That makes hockey underdog moneylines a real, regular source of value.
For the full picture, start with how to bet on hockey, compare it to the puck line, and see the moneylines we take in our live feed.
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