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What are the run line and the puck line?

The run line in baseball and the puck line in ice hockey are the spread for low-scoring games, almost always set at 1.5.

Example: Bet $10 on the Yankees -1.5 at $2.30. They must win by 2 or more runs for you to get $23 back. Take the other side, +1.5, and you win if your team wins or loses by just 1.

Because these games are low-scoring, a 1.5 start is a big deal.

That is why a favourite on the run line often pays more than $2.00.

As of 5 October, the bookies keep about $5 of every $100 bet on NHL puck line bets.

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Updated 5 October 2026. More betting questions · How we write and correct our pages.

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