How to Bet on the NHL in PA
NHL betting is live in Pennsylvania with odds, lines and player props available for the 2022-2023 NHL season now at Pennsylvania online sportsbooks.
You can make Stanley Cup futures and other NHL futures wagers on the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers and all of the other teams. If you are 21 and located inside Pennsylvania state lines, you can bet on all the NHL action at licensed online sportsbooks and Pennsylvania sports betting apps.
Below you’ll find a complete look at hockey betting in Pennsylvania with everything you need to know to bet on NHL games online and live. You’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about NHL betting, pre-season odds and futures for the Pens and Flyers, and some tried-and-true NHL betting strategies.
Best NHL Betting Sites in Pennsylvania
Live NHL Odds at Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks
Below, find real-time NHL puck lines, moneylines, and totals at legal Pennsylvania online sportsbooks. Click directly on any odds to jump right to the sportsbook, claim your bonus offer, and make your bet. Check the second tab for current NHL futures odds for the Stanley Cup at Pennsylvania online sportsbooks.
Bet NHL Online in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved both single-game NHL betting and betting on NHL futures markets. That means you can bet on NHL games and the prospects of NHL teams and players at any PGCB-licensed retail or online sportsbook.
Online sportsbooks and sportsbook apps launched in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2019. There are now over a dozen online sportsbooks and mobile apps in Pennsylvania for both iOS and Android devices that offer hockey betting.
These Pennsylvania online sportsbooks post the same NHL lines found at Pennsylvania retail sportsbooks. The major difference is that you can now make your hockey bets from wherever you are inside the state, although you’ll need to sign up for an account to start making bets online.
Fortunately, Pennsylvania online sportsbooks make this quick and easy. Operators only need to verify your age and location with minimal personal information. Then you’ll need to deposit money into your account for betting.
Hockey Betting Lines Explained
Licensed sportsbooks in Pennsylvania offer a variety of basic hockey bets:
- Moneylines: A bet on an NHL team to win a single game at odds posted by the sportsbook. You lock in the bet at odds set according to each team’s probability of winning.
- Puck line: A bet on an NHL team to win a single game with a puck line, or spread, factored into the score.
- Totals: A bet on whether the total combined score in an NHL game will be over or under a line set by the sportsbook.
- Parlays: A single bet combining two or more basic bets into one. Every bet, or leg, must win for a parlay to pay.
- Live in-play or in-game: Basic NHL betting lines offered during a live NHL game. Odds are adjusted throughout the game.
- NHL futures: A bet on an NHL team to win its division, conference, or the Stanley Cup. NHL futures bets can also include wagers on how many regular-season wins an NHL team will accumulate throughout the season. Most NHL futures odds set in the offseason are adjusted as the regular season plays out.
NHL Moneylines
The moneyline is the easiest way to bet on the NHL. NHL moneyline bets pay according to a team’s probability of winning a game outright. The odds are locked in at the time you place the bet. All you have to do is correctly pick the winning team to get paid
Moneyline odds are posted as either positive (+) or negative (-) numbers. Negative numbers represent the favorite and show how much you’ll need to bet to win $100, plus your bet back. Positive numbers are for underdogs and show how much each $100 bet will pay, plus your bet back.
The Philadelphia Flyers, for example, may be posted as underdogs on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers’ moneyline might be +165. That means if you bet $100 on Philadelphia, you’ll win $165 back if they win.
If you like Pittsburgh at home instead, you might find the Pens at close to -200. That means you’ll need to bet $200 on the Pens to win $100 on a successful wager.
NHL Puck Lines
NHL puck lines are the same thing as point spread bets in football betting. Most puck lines are set at -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. This is because the average NHL game is decided by two goals or less.
Betting the puck line requires you to pick the winner with the puck line factored into the final score. Alternative puck lines are also often offered by sportsbooks at different prices.
NHL Totals
NHL totals are the NHL version of an over/under. Sportsbooks set a line on the total number of goals both teams will combine to score, and you bet on whether the actual total will be over or under that.
Typically, NHL totals lines sit around five or six goals and can be booked at -110 odds on either side.
NHL Futures
NHL futures are traditionally bets on who will win the Stanley Cup, a conference, or division. However, they may also include wagers on how many regular-season wins a team will accumulate or individual player awards.
These NHL futures odds fluctuate throughout the season based on each team’s (or player’s) prospects. Some popular NHL futures that Pennsylvania sportsbooks allow patrons to bet on include:
- NHL Win Totals: Betting on an over/under line for a team’s complete season win total.
- Division/Conference Winners: Betting on a team to win its division or conference.
- NHL Playoffs: Betting on a team to make the NHL Playoffs or win an individual playoff series.
- Stanley Cup: Betting on a team to win the Stanley Cup.
- NHL Winter Classic: Advanced betting on events like the NHL Winter Classic.
NHL Props
A prop bet is a wager on something that is not directly tied to the outcome of the game. For example, sportsbooks may offer props on whether Sidney Crosby scores a goal or how many total shots on goal the Flyers will have.
NHL Parlays
NHL parlays involve combining two or more basic NHL bets into one. Parlays pay better than single bets because you must win each one for the parlay to pay.
NHL In-play/In-game Betting
Pennsylvania sportsbooks, and in particular online and mobile sportsbooks, offer more advanced NHL betting options including live, in-play or in-game NHL betting. This allows you to book basic NHL bets throughout a game at odds that change as the game does.
With live hockey betting, you can make bets on anything from which team or player will score the next goal to which team will win the period to who will get the next penalty. You can also make moneyline, totals, or puck line bets at different odds than what was available before the game started. Check your favorite sportsbook for all of the current live betting odds for any NHL game in progress.
Best NHL Betting Apps in Pennsylvania
1. DraftKings Sportsbook PA – Up to $1,250 in Bonus Bets
1. DraftKings Sportsbook PA – Up to $1,250 in Bonus BetsThe DraftKings Sportsbook app is now available in Pennsylvania in partnership with Penn National Gaming and its Meadows Racetrack & Casino property just outside Pittsburgh.
The retail sportsbook at Meadows launched at the start of the 2019-20 NHL season. The DraftKings Sportsbook app soft launched on Nov. 4, 2019 and opened to the betting public on Nov. 7.
You’ll find all the best lines, odds and props on the slick and user-friendly DraftKings Sportsbook app.
2. FanDuel Sportsbook – No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000
2. FanDuel Sportsbook – No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000
Already the Pennsylvania market leader, the FanDuel Sportsbook app is easy to use and offers an almost identical experience to its website.
Every conceivable NHL betting line is available, including live in-game NHL betting. Plus, FanDuel features ongoing promotions such as NHL odds boosts and parlay insurance.
Everything from creating an account to depositing funds and building bet slips is just a few clicks away. Furthermore, the app is available for Android and iOS users.
Why Bet on Hockey Online in Pennsylvania?
Online sportsbooks and betting apps in Pennsylvania offer the full slate of hockey bets you’ll find at any retail sportsbook in a casino. But browsing through your betting options and testing out various parlays and payouts is a lot easier.
With a clickable online betting slip, you can plug different bets in and play with the payouts without anyone waiting impatiently behind you in line at the betting window.
The speed and flexibility of using a betting app on your phone also means faster and easier access to live in-game NHL betting options than at a retail sportsbook. While the social environment at a Pennsylvania retail sportsbook is always fun, for efficiency and speed, online and mobile NHL betting is far superior.
As for getting money online to bet with, most Pennsylvania online and mobile sports betting operators accept:
- Major credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard
- Online bank transfers
- Popular third-party payment processors including PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller
- Cash options that include making a deposit at the cage of an affiliated Pennsylvania casino or even a 7-Eleven or CVS
Once you’ve set up and funded your account, you can browse through all the daily NHL betting lines and futures, shop around for the best odds, and get in on the action within seconds.
Bet on Pittsburgh Penguins
Two outstanding players, one of which is now a team owner, have helped the Pittsburgh Penguins become one of the most storied franchises in the NHL.
This includes Mario Lemieux, who played 17 seasons with the team from 1984 to 2006 and assumed ownership in 1999. There’s also present captain Sidney Crosby, who was selected first overall by the Penguins in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and by all accounts is currently in the midst of a Hall of Fame career.
Lemieux led the Pens to two consecutive Stanley Cup wins in 1991 and 1992. He was named the NHL’s most outstanding player four times and NHL MVP three times throughout his career.
In his first year, Crosby was named NHL Rookie of the Year. In his second, he was named the NHL’s most outstanding player and NHL MVP. In his third season, he led the Pens to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.
The very next year, Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup, helping the Pens beat the Wings in seven games. Crosby also led the team to win consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
The team joined the NHL in 1967 and played in the Civic Arena, also known as The Igloo, at the end of the 2009-10 season. The Pens moved into the Consol Energy Center for the 2010-11 season. It has since been renamed PPG Paints Arena.
In 2022, the Penguins reached the NHL playoffs for the 16th consecutive year. In the first round, the Penguins jumped out to 3-1 to lead on the New York Rangers but lost the series in seven games. It was the first time the Penguins lost a Game 7 on the road in franchise history.
Bet on Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers joined the NHL as a part of the 1967 NHL Expansion and were the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup in the 1973–74 season. The Flyers made it two straight, winning the title in the 1974–75 season as well.
Although the team was competitive in the 1990s behind star Eric Lindros, the Flyers have seemingly been trying to rebuild themselves into contenders ever since.
During the 2021-2022 season, the Flyers finished 25-46-11, landing them in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Flyers play home games at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
NHL Power Rankings
NHL.com releases a Super 16 NHL Power Rankings aimed at identifying the top teams in the league throughout the regular season. The list is put together by thirteen NHL beat writers employed by the site.
NHL.com also does the same heading into the season. Check the current Super 16 rankings every week on NHL.com.
How to Stream NHL Games Live in Pennsylvania
You can live stream Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins games with a live TV streaming service such as FuboTV, Hulu, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, or Xbox. However, some broadcasts may only be available by using your cable provider login in the FOX Sports Go or NBC Sports apps.
You can also subscribe to NHL.TV where every NHL regular-season game is available live online. Blackout restrictions may still apply, though.
How NHL Works: Preseason, Regular Season, and the Playoffs
Each of the NHL’s 32 teams plays 82 games over the course of a seven-month regular season. Then, the NHL Playoffs start, and the real battle for the Stanley Cup begins.
The NHL playoffs consist of four rounds of best-of-seven series.
The top three teams from each of the league’s divisions plus two wild card teams from each conference make the playoffs. The four eventual winners from the first two rounds will advance to the Conference Finals, and the two winners move on to play for the Stanley Cup.
NHL Betting Tips
Nobody picks NHL winners in every game. But you don’t have to in order to make NHL betting profitable.
The trick is to learn how to manage your betting bankroll effectively and win just a little more than you lose. The following three NHL betting tips might help:
1. Accept Home-Ice Advantage
Only the ice itself is as solid as the home-ice advantage in the NHL. Home teams get the last line change, as well as a boost of confidence that the support of the crowd can give them.
Some teams are better at taking advantage of this. Look at the home and road records of the teams involved before making your hockey bet.
2. Use Stats Relentlessly
Hockey betting is a battle for information. Researching a team’s statistical data and any detailed analysis of it will help you make more informed picks. Try betting only on the teams you follow closely and use the statistical information you already know as a fan. Just make sure to bet with your head, and the stats, over your heart.
3. Don’t Chase Losses
You will lose some hockey bets along the way. Losing streaks are real. But don’t be tempted to increase your bet size to chase those losses. That’s just a quick way to go broke. Instead, keep the bets the same and stay in the game until your losing streak turns into a winning streak.
Top 5 NHL Players From Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to a lot of great hockey players. Here is our rundown of the best five the Keystone State has ever produced:
1. Mike Richter
Legendary New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter is from Abington, PA. He played 14 seasons for the Rangers and helped New York win the Stanley Cup in the 1993-94 season.
Richter was nominated for the Vezina Trophy five times and ended his career with a .904 save percentage and 301 career wins. Internationally, he helped the 2002 US Olympic team win a silver medal and was the goalie on the 1996 World Cup-winning US team.
2. R.J. Umberger
Pittsburgh’s R.J. Umberger played 11 seasons in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. His 180 goals and 212 assists make him among the highest-scoring Pennsylvania-born player in NHL history.
Umberger has played internationally for the US several times as well.
3. Ryan Malone
Ryan “Bugsy” Malone became the first Pittsburgh-born and raised player to play for the hometown Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003.
He also played 11 total seasons in the NHL, suiting up for the Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. Malone’s 370 career points make him the third-highest scoring Pennsylvania-born player in NHL history.
He won a silver medal with the 2010 US Olympic team and played for two World Cup US teams.
4. Brandon Saad
Brandon Saad was born and raised in Pittsburgh. However, he was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has won two Stanley Cups with the team in 2013 and 2015.
Saad played four seasons with the Blackhawks before two with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played for the Blackhawks again in the 2017–18 season, the Colorado Avalanche for 2020-21, and signed with the St. Louis Blues ahead of the 2022 season. Saad’s has scored over 450 points in his NHL career.
Saad helped the 2010 US Juniors team win the World Junior Championship.
5. Vincent Trocheck
Vincent Trocheck is a Pittsburgh native who played six seasons with the Florida Panthers after being drafted by the team in 2011. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline of the 2019-20 season.
Trocheck is one of only four Pennsylvania-born players to post more than 300 career points in the NHL, and he has now exceeded 400 points.
Trocheck helped the 2010 US Juniors team win the World Junior Championship and played for the 2014 US World Cup team.
NHL Betting FAQ
It is 100% legal to bet on the NHL at licensed Pennsylvania sports betting operators across the state. That means retail sportsbooks and sports betting apps and websites too.
Pennsylvania legalized sports betting pending a change in the federal law back in October 2017. That change came in May 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down the law banning sports betting across most of the US.
The PGCB put together regulations to govern sports betting here in Pennsylvania and these included NHL betting regulations legalizing single-game NHL wagering.
That means you can now bet the moneyline, puck line, and totals on every single NHL game. Plus, you can bet on multi-game NHL parlays and some specific team and player props and futures.
The PGCB continues to provide oversight to the Pennsylvania sports betting industry and approval for the launch of all NHL betting markets.
The state’s first retail sportsbook launched in November 2018 and the first Pennsylvania sports betting apps and websites went live in the summer of 2019. Now, it’s completely legal to bet on the NHL across the Keystone State.
Puck line bets in the NHL are a lot like point spread bets in the NFL. You pick a winner with the puck line factored into the final score to determine a betting winner. See more information in our hockey betting guide above.
Overtime does count when it comes to NHL betting, unless stated otherwise by the sportsbook you bet with.
Shootouts count for NHL betting in terms of wins and losses. For totals and puck line bets teams that win in a shootout are credited with one additional goal in the final tally.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks offer a variety of NHL betting lines, including in-game lines. That means you can bet on everything from the final score of a game to which team will win each period.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks and the oddsmakers they employ set NHL lines based on several factors. This includes everything from specific scheduling and game location to the historical matchup and recent performance data. Basic NHL odds principles are also applied.
The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs determine the league champion and Stanley Cup winner. It consists of four rounds of best-of-seven series.
Pennsylvania sportsbooks allow you to place bets on who will win each series, each conference, and ultimately the Stanley Cup. Plus, sportsbooks offer a variety of betting markets for each individual game in a series.
Additionally, you can increase potential payouts on any series bet by picking the exact score in that series.