New to NHL betting? Every term below has a plain-English definition drawn from sourced material — no guesswork, no jargon overload. Start here, then follow the links deeper when you're ready to act.
What are the core NHL betting terms you need to know?
- Parlay
- A single bet linking two or more individual wagers called legs. Every leg must win for the parlay to pay out. One miss, and the whole ticket loses.
- Leg
- Each individual wager inside a parlay. A three-leg parlay has three separate outcomes that all have to go your way.
- Moneyline
- A straight bet on which team wins, expressed in American odds — for example, -150 or +130.
- Puck Line
- The NHL equivalent of a point spread, almost always set at ±1.5 goals. Favorites must win by two; underdogs can lose by one and still cover. Learn how to use it in our puck line parlay strategy guide.
- Totals (Over/Under)
- A bet on whether combined goals scored will go over or under a set number.
- Same-Game Parlay (SGP)
- A parlay built entirely from multiple markets inside one single game — say, moneyline plus player props plus total. Different from a standard parlay that spans separate games.
- Player Props
- Bets on individual player stats: shots on goal, goalie saves, anytime goal scorer, points, and more.
- Vig (Juice)
- The sportsbook's built-in commission, typically reflected in odds like -110 on each side of a line. It compounds across every leg in a parlay.
- Expected Value (EV)
- A measure of how profitable a bet is relative to its true probability. Positive EV means a bet has long-run value. Read more in our piece on expected value in NHL parlay betting.
- Goalie Confirmation
- Verifying which netminder starts before you lock in a parlay. A late scratch shifts lines materially and can gut a key leg. We cover the full impact at why goalie confirmation matters for NHL parlays.
- Futures
- Long-term bets — Stanley Cup winner odds, for example — placed well before the outcome is decided.
- PASPA
- The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2018. That ruling opened the door for state-by-state legalization.
Is NHL parlay betting legal in your state?
Parlay betting is legal in every US state that has legalized sports betting. As of August 2026, that covers 39 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, with online or mobile wagering available in 32 of those states. Montana permits betting but requires all wagers to be placed in person. If your state hasn't legalized yet, parlays are off the table — check your state regulator's site before depositing anywhere. You can also review the broader landscape at RG.org's legal sports betting state guide.
Minimum betting age is 21 in most legal states. Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Where should you go next?
These definitions are the foundation. Once you're comfortable, the next logical step is understanding how payouts stack up as you add legs. Use our NHL parlay calculator to preview potential returns before you commit. If you want to know the full mechanics — how legs combine, how odds multiply — start with what a parlay bet means in NHL hockey. And if you're weighing a single-game parlay against a multi-game ticket, our breakdown of SGP vs standard parlay lays out the differences clearly. When you're ready for today's picks, head to our free NHL parlay picks.
See also: Taxes on NHL Parlay Winnings.
See also: NHL Parlay Postponement and Cancellation Rules Explained.
See also: Responsible Gambling Resources for NHL Parlay Bettors.
See also: NHL Futures Parlays: What They Are and How They Work.
See also: Daily Fantasy Sports as an NHL Parlay Alternative in Restricted States.
See also: Expert NHL Parlay Picks: Projections, Not Guarantees.
See also: Correlated Legs in NHL Same-Game Parlays Explained.
See also: Minimum Legal Age to Bet NHL Parlays in the United States.