Puck Line, Spreads and Totals Explained (With Examples)
By StakeReferralCode.ca Editorial Team · Updated
A moneyline asks who wins. A spread asks by how much, and a total asks how many points, goals or runs are scored in all. Hockey calls the spread the puck line, baseball the run line, and basketball and football the point spread. Each gives one team a head start or deficit to even out the two sides.
This guide walks through each version with worked examples using Canadian teams. The odds and lines are invented for illustration; they aren't real prices or picks.
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How a spread works in one minute
- The favourite has a minus sign (for example, −1.5). They must win by more than that number.
- The underdog has a plus sign (+1.5). They can lose by less than that number, or win outright.
- You add the spread to the team's final score, then compare.
- A half-point (the "hook") makes a tie impossible. A whole number can produce a push, where your stake is refunded.
The puck line (NHL)
The standard NHL puck line is ±1.5 goals. Because hockey is low-scoring and many games are decided by one goal, the puck line changes the odds a lot compared with the moneyline.
Worked example (illustrative odds)
Edmonton Oilers host the Calgary Flames:
| Bet | Decimal odds | Wins if… |
|---|---|---|
| Oilers moneyline | 1.65 | Oilers win by any margin |
| Oilers −1.5 | 2.60 | Oilers win by 2+ goals |
| Flames +1.5 | 1.52 | Flames lose by 1, or win |
| Flames moneyline | 2.30 | Flames win by any margin |
Now apply three possible final scores to a $10 bet on each side of the puck line:
| Final score | Oilers −1.5 ($10 at 2.60) | Flames +1.5 ($10 at 1.52) |
|---|---|---|
| Oilers 4–1 | Wins, returns $26 | Loses |
| Oilers 3–2 | Loses (only won by 1) | Wins, returns $15.20 |
| Flames 3–2 | Loses | Wins, returns $15.20 |
Overtime, shootouts and empty nets
- In standard NHL markets, the moneyline, puck line and total usually include overtime and shootouts. A game won in overtime or a shootout is always a one-goal win, so the −1.5 side loses.
- Some books offer a 60-minute (regulation) market where a tie after 60 minutes is its own outcome. Read the market name.
- Late empty-net goals can turn a one-goal game into a two-goal game, which is exactly what decides many puck line bets.
For more hockey-specific markets, see our NHL betting guide for Canada.
The run line (MLB)
Baseball's equivalent is the run line, also usually ±1.5 runs. It works exactly like the puck line.
Example: if the Toronto Blue Jays are −1.5 and win 5–3, the bet wins; a 4–3 win loses, and the +1.5 side wins. Note that a home team leading after the top of the ninth doesn't bat again, which can limit its margin.
Point spreads (NBA and CFL)
Basketball and football have higher scores, so spreads are bigger and change from game to game.
Worked example: NBA (illustrative)
Toronto Raptors −4.5 at home:
| Final score | Raptors −4.5 | Opponent +4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Raptors 110–100 (by 10) | Wins | Loses |
| Raptors 105–102 (by 3) | Loses | Wins |
| Raptors 98–104 (lose by 6) | Loses | Wins |
Our Raptors and NBA betting guide covers other basketball markets.
Whole-number spreads and pushes
Say a CFL team is −3 (no half-point). If they win by exactly 3, the bet is a push and your stake is returned. If they win by 4 or more, the favourite covers. If they win by 1 or 2, or lose, the underdog +3 covers.
| Margin of favourite's win | Favourite −3 | Underdog +3 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or more | Wins | Loses |
| Exactly 3 | Push (refund) | Push (refund) |
| 1–2, or a loss | Loses | Wins |
Totals (over/under)
Totals ignore who wins. You bet on whether the combined score goes over or under the posted line.
Worked example: NHL total of 6.5 (illustrative)
Vancouver Canucks vs Winnipeg Jets, total 6.5:
| Final score | Total goals | Over 6.5 | Under 6.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–3 | 7 | Wins | Loses |
| 3–2 | 5 | Loses | Wins |
| 3–3, then OT winner | 7 | Wins | Loses |
A shootout winner is usually counted as one goal for the winning team in the final score, whatever happens in the shootout itself. Check the market rules, because this decides many totals bets.
In MLB, NBA and CFL totals, extra innings and overtime usually count. Team totals work the same way but count one team's score only.
Alternate lines (for example Oilers −2.5, or Under 5.5) move the line for a bigger or smaller payout. The margin is built into every version.
How to read and compare the price
Convert decimal odds to implied probability with 1 ÷ odds. In the puck line example above, 1 ÷ 2.60 is about 38.5% and 1 ÷ 1.52 is about 65.8%. Together they add up to about 104.3%. The extra 4.3% is the margin. This applies to all spread and total markets. Our odds guide explains the maths step by step.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that overtime counts on standard NHL puck lines and totals.
- Mixing up 60-minute and full-game markets.
- Treating higher odds as better value. On −1.5 they simply mean a lower chance of winning.
- Raising stakes after a bad beat. A late empty-net goal is part of hockey, not a reason to chase.
FAQ
What does +1.5 on the puck line mean?
The team can lose by one goal or win the game, and the bet still wins. It loses only if the team loses by two or more.
Do overtime goals count in NHL totals?
In standard full-game markets, usually yes. A shootout is normally counted as one goal for the winner. Regulation-only markets exclude overtime.
What is a push?
A push happens when the result lands exactly on a whole-number line. Your stake is refunded with no profit or loss.
Is the run line the same as the puck line?
The mechanics are the same: usually ±1.5, applied to the final score. One is used for baseball, the other for hockey.
Conclusion
Puck lines, run lines and point spreads all add or subtract a margin from one team's score, while totals ask only how much scoring happens. Learn how half-points, pushes and overtime affect settlement, and you'll understand almost every spread and total market. If you're in an eligible province and want to try these markets on Stake, register with code SHIMA through the Claim button on this page.
Related Guides
- Ready to sign up? Start with the claim the 200% bonus with code SHIMA.
- Parlay Betting Explained: How Parlays Pay and Risks
- Live Betting Tips: How In-Play Odds Move
- Sports Betting Bankroll Management: Simple Rules
- All Stake guides for Canada
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