For the stronger team, winning is not enough as they will need to overcome the point deficit.
This means they will need to win the game by a margin that is greater than the point deficit.
It is basically a margin of points by which the stronger team should win the game on paper.
If the Buffalo Sabres lose by 5 goals or more, you will lose your bet.
Handicaps
Around the world, point spreads are also called handicaps.
The term handicap comes from Hand-in-Cap.
Later, handicaps were used in horse racing.
There are three different types of handicaps (or point spreads), though 2 feature more prominently.
Asian Handicap
This is the most common jot down of handicap.
If you see a point spread that ends with a .5 then it is an Asian handicap.
If they only win by 4 points, it is considered a loss.
European Handicap
European handicaps do not have half points.
These are whole-number spreads and this opens up the possibility of a draw, or push.
This means that the game has ended in a tie, and you will receive your stake back.
The same goes for betting on the Buffalo Sabres.
Basically, the money you stake is halved and goes on the closest Asian handicap and European handicap bets.
If the team does not lose by over 4 goals, you win your bet.
If they lose by exactly 5 goals, half your bet is lost whilst the other half is pushed.
Most sportsbooks also offer alternative lines where you could find a long list of spreads.
On the other side of the list, the larger positive handicaps will come with increasingly shorter odds.
Conclusion
Point spreads give both teams an even chance of winning, making the 50:50 bets.
But you should also consider the alternative lines.
They offer a huge world of betting possibilities and you might find good prices on certain bets.
Alternative lines do require a bit more research than point spreads.
Good knowledge of both teams in a fixture can go a long way.
