By: Brent Booher
NHL First Period Totals Betting Explained
Over the last several years, the NHL has evolved into a high-scoring affair. As a result, first period totals betting has exploded in the market.
When you break down an NHL game, the vast majority of NHL games will have a full-game total between 5.5 to 6.5 goals. When you break this down over 3 periods, you’re looking at an average of roughly two goals per period. And thus, the OVER/UNDER 1.5 1st period total number was born.
Like any other sport, there are NHL teams that go over the 1.5 goal total very frequently and there are others that go under the 1.5 goal total very frequently. As a result, the juice on these period totals will fluctuate based on the tendencies of the teams playing.
For example, the Colorado Avalanche will have a much juicier OVER price than the Calgary Flames typically will based off each teams tendencies.
Occasionally you will even see a 1st period total set at an even 2 goals, if the matchup features two teams that frequently go over the 1.5 goal total.
Because the totals are predominantly set at an O/U of 1.5 goals, we will base our data off of this. However, it should be noted that some totals do occasionally reach the 2 goal number.
Goal Scored In First Ten Minutes Betting
Another fun prop that hockey bettors have discovered and fallen in love with is the goal scored in first ten minutes prop. This prop may also appear at some sportsbooks as a “goal in the first 9:30 of the 1st period prop,” but it largely does the same thing – just with 30 seconds less to work with. If you’re wanting a bet with a very quick result, betting on a goal in the first half of the 1st period could be right up your alley.
As is the case with period totals betting, there are some teams that do much better at scoring quickly than others and the market does adjust in the same manner.
For example, betting on the Vegas Golden Knights to score in the first 10 minutes will come with more juice than betting on the Winnipeg Jets to do the same thing.
Second and Third Period Totals Betting Explained
Much like 1st period total betting, the totals for the 2nd and 3rd periods are typically set at 1.5. However, the 2nd and 3rd period totals are not available until the first intermission and second intermission respectively, as these are posted in the same manner as a 2nd half bet in football or basketball.
However, there is a lot of data to find trends and tendencies amongst teams in how they perform as the game goes on. As is the case with 1st period betting, the juice and totals depend largely on the teams who are (no pun intended) facing off that particular day.
First Period Standings (Through November 24, 2019)
| Team | Overall | Win % | Home | Away | Last 10 |
| Avalanche | 19-4 | .826 | 8-2 (.800) | 11-2 (.846) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Sabres | 16-7 | .695 | 7-4 (.636) | 9-3 (.750) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Blue Jackets | 15-7 | .682 | 8-4 (.667) | 7-3 (.700) | 9-1 (.900) |
| Oilers | 17-9 | .680 | 6-5 (.545) | 11-4 (.733) | 10-0 (1.00) |
| Bruins | 15-8 | .652 | 8-5 (.615) | 7-3 (.700) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Canadiens | 15-8 | .652 | 10-2 (.833) | 5-6 (.455) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Golden Knights | 16-9 | .640 | 10-4 (.714) | 6-5 (.545) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Sharks | 15-9 | .624 | 8-5 (.615) | 7-4 (.636) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Hurricanes | 15-9 | .624 | 8-4 (.667) | 7-5 (.583) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Rangers | 13-8 | .619 | 6-6 (.500) | 7-2 (.777) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Kings | 14-9 | .608 | 7-5 (.583) | 7-4 (.636) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Senators | 14-9 | .608 | 6-5 (.545) | 8-4 (.667) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Devils | 13-9 | .590 | 8-4 (.667) | 5-5 (.500) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Blues | 14-10 | .583 | 8-5 (.615) | 6-5 (.545) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Islanders | 12-9 | .571 | 7-6 (.538) | 5-3 (.625) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Flyers | 13-10 | .565 | 5-6 (.455) | 8-4 (.667) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Maple Leafs | 14-11 | .560 | 6-7 (.462) | 8-4 (.667) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Capitals | 14-11 | .560 | 7-5 (.583) | 7-6 (.538) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Lightning | 11-9 | .550 | 5-3 (.625) | 6-6 (.500) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Coyotes | 13-12 | .520 | 8-4 (.667) | 5-8 (.384) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Red Wings | 13-13 | .500 | 7-5 (.583) | 6-8 (.428) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Ducks | 12-12 | .500 | 6-6 (.500) | 6-6 (.500) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Canucks | 12-12 | .500 | 6-4 (.600) | 6-8 (.428) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Predators | 11-11 | .500 | 6-7 (.461) | 5-4 (.556) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Panthers | 12-12 | .500 | 7-4 (.636) | 5-8 (.384) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Stars | 10-14 | .416 | 5-7 (.416) | 5-7 (.417) | 3-7 (.300) |
| Blackhawks | 10-14 | .416 | 3-10 (.230) | 6-4 (.600) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Jets | 10-14 | .416 | 4-8 (.333) | 5-6 (.454) | 3-7 (.300) |
| Wild | 9-14 | .391 | 3-5 (.375) | 6-9 (.400) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Penguins | 9-14 | .391 | 5-8 (.384) | 4-6 (.400) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Flames | 6-20 | .230 | 2-9 (.182) | 4-11 (.266) | 1-9 (.100) |
Goal Scored In First 10 Minutes (Through November 24, 2019)
| Team | Overall | Win % | Home | Away | Last 10 |
| Avalanche | 18-5 | .782 | 8-2 (.800) | 10-3 (.769) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Flyers | 17-6 | .739 | 7-4 (.636) | 10-2 (.833) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Senators | 17-6 | .739 | 8-3 (.727) | 9-3 (.750) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Capitals | 17-8 | .680 | 9-3 (.750) | 8-5 (.615) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Hurricanes | 16-8 | .667 | 8-4 (.667) | 8-4 (.667) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Golden Knights | 16-9 | .640 | 10-4 (.714) | 6-5 (.545) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Sharks | 15-9 | .624 | 7-6 (.538) | 8-3 (.727) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Kings | 14-8 | .619 | 8-3 (.727) | 6-5 (.545) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Islanders | 13-8 | .619 | 8-5 (.615) | 5-3 (.625) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Sabres | 14-9 | .608 | 9-3 (.750) | 5-6 (.454) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Maple Leafs | 15-10 | .600 | 8-5 (.615) | 7-5 (.583) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Canucks | 15-10 | .600 | 8-3 (.727) | 7-7 (.500) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Oilers | 15-10 | .600 | 6-5 (.545) | 9-5 (.642) | 10-0 (1.00) |
| Bruins | 13-9 | .590 | 7-5 (.583) | 6-4 (.600) | 6-4 (.600) |
| Panthers | 14-10 | .583 | 6-5 (.545) | 8-5 (.615) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Lightning | 11-9 | .550 | 7-2 (.778) | 4-7 (.363) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Devils | 12-10 | .545 | 7-5 (.583) | 5-5 (.500) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Penguins | 12-10 | .545 | 6-7 (.461) | 6-3 (.667) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Blue Jackets | 12-10 | .545 | 8-4 (.667) | 4-6 (.400) | 8-2 (.800) |
| Predators | 12-10 | .545 | 6-7 (.461) | 6-3 (.667) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Coyotes | 13-11 | .541 | 8-3 (.727) | 5-8 (.384) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Ducks | 13-11 | .541 | 7-5 (.583) | 6-6 (.500) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Rangers | 11-10 | .523 | 4-8 (.333) | 7-4 (.636) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Blackhawks | 12-11 | .522 | 7-7 (.500) | 5-4 (.555) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Wild | 12-11 | .522 | 4-4 (.500) | 8-7 (.533) | 7-3 (.700) |
| Stars | 12-12 | .500 | 6-6 (.500) | 6-6 (.500) | 3-7 (.300) |
| Blues | 12-12 | .500 | 5-8 (.384) | 7-4 (.636) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Red Wings | 12-13 | .480 | 6-6 (.500) | 6-7 (.461) | 5-5 (.500) |
| Flames | 12-14 | .461 | 5-7 (.416) | 7-7 (.500) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Canadiens | 10-12 | .454 | 6-6 (.500) | 4-6 (.400) | 4-6 (.400) |
| Jets | 10-14 | .416 | 4-8 (.333) | 6-6 (.500) | 5-5 (.500) |
