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What is the Three-Way Puck Line Handicap in NHL betting?
In NHL betting, a three-way handicap puck line wager is similar to the three-way moneyline wager, except that in this scenario, there is a handicap or spread attached to the bet to give one team an advantage to start out with. And as with the three-way moneyline, the three-way puck line handicap only takes into account regulation time. The bet concludes when 60 minutes of play concludes, regardless of whether extra time follows.
The best betting apps like FanDuel offer a number of variables on the three-way puck line handicap wager. The visiting team is offered 1-0 and 2-0 starts, and you can play either option.
Let’s say the Columbus Blue Jackets are playing against the Florida Panthers. In a 1-0 scenario, Columbus would get a goal and would, in essence, start the game with a 1-0 lead on the Panthers.
If you place a wager on the Blue Jackets, you will be a winner if they win the game or lose the game by one goal. If you bet the Panthers, since they are already down 1-0 due to the handicap, they must win by at least two goals for you to cash a winner. If you play the draw, it is considered a +1, the same as the Panthers, so a winning wager on the tie would be a one-goal Florida victory.
Now let’s look at a 2-0 handicap found on betting sites. In this instance, you are spotting the Blue Jackets a 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard before the puck is dropped. All Columbus needs to do now to make you a winner is lose by less than three goals. A wager on the Panthers now requires them to win by at least three goals in order for you to cash. And a winning ticket on a draw wager would be if the Panthers take the game by exactly two goals.
The three-way puck line handicap also offers 0-1 and 0-2 wagers, where you flip the spread and give the home team the advantage on the scoreboard. It’s a great way to add juice to a wager on a favorite, but you lower your potential for a return on your wager because the odds will drop significantly.
