Ontario Sports Betting Information

Sportsbooks offer the 3 way bet for NHL games, but casual players don’t know about it, or the option isn’t on the main wagering screen.

In this post we cover..

• What a 3 way bet is in hockey
• Why and when to choose 3 way bet instead of money line or puck line
• Other terms for 3 way hockey lines

Betting on hockey games is pretty straight forward and similar lines to what you see in baseball wagering. The RUN LINE in baseball uses a set spread of 1.5 runs instead of a floating number as football betting.

Hockey wagering options provide the same spread as the run line, but in hockey it’s called the PUCK LINE. The favored team is -1.5 and the dog is +1.5. If you place a bet on the favorite, they must win by 2+ goals for you to cash in. If you bet the underdog, they can lose by 1 goal or win outright to make your bet a winner.

What is a 3 Way Bet in Hockey?

A “3 way” bet in hockey is simple. You can bet on either team to win, or you can bet that the game will be a regulation tie (go to overtime/shootout). The 3 way hockey bet– essentially a money line bet, but the team you pick must win before going to overtime.

Why Choose 3 Way Bet in Hockey?

The reason players choose to bet a 3 way line in hockey is because it pays better than the simple money line offer. Where a team pays -140 as a traditional money line favorite, they can pay +125 as a 3 way moneyline winner! That is incredible value in comparison.

Instead of having to risk $140 to gain a profit of $100, you can risk $100 and get a profit of $125. Risk $40 less…win $20 more.

When to Bet NHL 3 Way Line?

Exactly when to bet the 3 way line in NHL wagering comes down to risk vs reward. As the example above, that is the actual line differential in the game I am betting on tonight…which gave me the idea for this post! Let’s break it down.

The Detroit Red Wings play Columbus, favored on the money line at -140. So to win a $100 profit, I need to risk $140. I simply don’t bet on lines paying less than -130 and will look at the other options. The puck line pays +175, great value, but this wager requires the Red Wings to win by 2 goals. Betting the puck line here carries a hefty risk on the road, and obviously winning by 2+ goals means the game ends before overtime. Instead, we’ll look at the 3 way payout, which is +125.

Detroit Money Line (-140)

Detroit -1.5 (+175)

Detroit 3 Way (+125)

My personal hockey betting strategy is don’t bet a payout worse than -120 while avoiding unnecessary risks. I look to get a payout of plus-money whenever possible, but with controlled situations. I clearly see the Red Wings 3 Way as the best value compared to the risk involved.

What are Other Terms for 3 Way Line?

While the majority of online sportsbooks offer the 3-way line for hockey betting (and soccer), they may use different terms to define it. Some books refer to this type of wager as the reg line, regulation line, regulation moneyline, or Canadian line.

“Canadian Line” may be used in reference to the puck line instead of the 3 way line, so be sure to check the wagering rules and definitions of the site you use.

Conclusion

• The 3 way bet is same as the money line, but doesn’t include overtime/shootout. You have 3 ways to bet– team A, team B, or TIE.

• The 3 way bet provides added value for those situations when you want to take the favored team. This is especially true if the money line isn’t paying well, and the puck line is too risky.

• You have to hunt for it! The 3 way betting option is rarely on the main NHL betting screen. You will have to click on the game you are betting, a link for “more bets”, or some books have a + beside the match to expand the options. Look for “reg line”, “regulation money line”, or “3 way”.