Fantasy Hockey with Real Prizes
Runtiva is salary-cap daily fantasy hockey with peer-to-peer prize pools — you play other fans, never the house. NHL contests are live for the 2026–27 season: a fresh lineup any night there's a slate, no season-long commitment, and private contests with your own crew. Free contests and paid contests with cash prizes are both live in the app.
How salary-cap fantasy hockey works
Pick a slate, build a lineup under the salary cap, and score fantasy points from your players' real performances that night:
- Every position — centers, wingers, defensemen and a goalie. The app shows the exact slots before you enter.
- Salary cap — stars cost more, so the skill is finding the value: the second-line winger on the power play, the defenseman who shoots and blocks all night.
- Price-fixed at entry — the contest you join is the contest you get; nothing shifts after you enter.
- Live scoring — points update through every period.
New to it? How to play hockey walks through your first lineup, and NHL DFS for beginners covers strategy. Not sure which contest to enter? See contest types explained.
How fantasy hockey scoring works
Skaters score from both ends of the ice, so it isn't only about goals:
- Skaters — goal 12, assist 8, shot on goal 1.6, blocked shot 1.6. Power-play points add 0.5 and short-handed points add 2.
- Goalies — win 12, save 0.8, shutout 8, goal against −4. Shootout goals and saves don't count.
Shots and blocks are the volume stats: a defenseman who logs big minutes can score well without a point, and a goalie facing 35 shots on a winning team is the jackpot. The full table is in the contest rules.
Not a sportsbook, not a pick'em app
There are no odds here and no house line to beat. Entry fees make up the prize pool, the prize pool is paid back out to players, and Runtiva takes a transparent fee for running the contest. More on how we operate and keep player funds safe: is Runtiva legit.
Play your friends
Hockey nights are better with your crew. Start a group, run private contests against people you actually know, and keep the trash talk in the group chat. The same wallet plays fantasy basketball and fantasy football.
Frequently asked questions
Is daily fantasy hockey legal?
Daily fantasy sports is a game of skill: you build a lineup against a salary cap and score against other players' choices, not against the house. On Runtiva, paid contests are available in 21 states and Washington, DC; in the other 29 states, contests are free to play. Runtiva verifies your location and identity at signup, so you always see exactly what's available where you live.
Are NHL contests live now?
Yes. NHL salary-cap contests are live in the Runtiva app for the 2026–27 season, alongside free contests you can play without depositing anything.
How do goalies score in fantasy hockey?
On Runtiva a goalie earns 12 points for a win, 0.8 per save and 8 for a shutout, and loses 4 for every goal against. Saves add up fast, so a busy goalie on a team that still wins is the best outcome. Shootout goals and saves don't count.
What counts for skaters?
Goals (12), assists (8), shots on goal (1.6) and blocked shots (1.6), plus a bonus for power-play points (+0.5) and short-handed points (+2). Shots and blocks mean a defenseman who never scores can still post a useful night.
Can I play for free first?
Yes. Free contests are live in the app — build a hockey lineup, learn the scoring, and play private contests with friends at no cost.
How old do I have to be?
You must be 18 or older, where legal. Age, identity, and location are verified at signup.