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NHL First Period Betting Advice and Strategy

by Kevin Rogers - 1/8/2025

NHL first period betting advice Justin Faulk St. Louis Blues

Although the NHL isn’t one of the most popular sports to bet on in the United States, there are plenty of opportunities to profit on the ice.

Many people would prefer wagering on an entire game, but then there is the randomness of the three-on-three overtime session and even more volatility in the shootout.

Probably the best part of the game to isolate and have around a 45-minute sweat is betting on the first period.

Doc’s Sports offers NHL expert picks for every game on our hockey predictions page.

NHL First Period Betting Advice: How to Wager

It’s simple to place a bet, as you can bet on the moneyline, puckline, or total, but you have a 20-minute period to win or lose.

Starting with the moneyline, this is normally a shorter number than the price for the entire game. For example, if the Washington Capitals are taking on the Buffalo Sabres, and the Capitals are listed as a -155 favorite for the game (Bet $155 to win $100) then the Sabres are +130 (Bet $100 to win $130).

However, in the first period, some sports books list Washington at -145 odds, while Buffalo will sit at +115. If you are interested in better odds, wait until the game begins and live bet even a few minutes in and the odds can flip in favor depending on which side you take.

Betting on NHL First Period Lines: Laying the Half-Goal

From the puck-line perspective, a full game will be laying 1.5 goals. Therefore, to win that bet, the favorite will have to win by two goals. In the first period, betting the puck-line means only winning by one goal, as the line is set at -0.5 for the favorites.

So going back to the sample game between Washington and Buffalo, the Capitals are listed at -0.5 on the puck-line, with the payback being +140. 

If Washington leads by at least a goal after the first period, it nets a nice $140 return on a $100 wager. But if you take the Capitals on the puck-line and the game is tied or they are losing following the first period, the ticket is a loser.

On the flip-side, taking Buffalo at +0.5 as an underdog in the first period will cost you a hefty fee. The Sabres in this example are close to -200 to be tied or lead after the opening 20 minutes. Therefore, if Buffalo trails following one period, then that’s a substantial loss.

Advice on Betting NHL First Period Totals

Standard totals for the first period are 1.5 goals, as 1 goal or fewer is a winner if you take the Under, and 2 goals or more is a winner on the Over side. 

The key here is the juice and whether the Over or Under has the higher price. If it is expected to be a high-scoring period, the Over may hover around -140 to -150. If a tight first period is predicted, then the Under can be listed from -110 to -120.

Several other options with nice plus returns include a first period tie, which could sit around +170, and the “Both teams to Score” bet. On the “Both teams to Score” wager, the Yes choice will normally be around +120 or higher, while the No selection can range from -150 to at least -200.

What are the keys to being successful betting on the first period in the NHL?

It’s like any other handicap in any sport; see who is successful and not successful in this time frame. There are excellent teams in the league that may get off to slow starts in games but finish strong, while weaker or inconsistent clubs jump out to fantastic starts but fall apart late in games.

Also, keeping an eye on which goaltenders start is a helpful tool, since several goalies struggle in the opening period, while others fare very well early.

Are there any good systems or trends to look for when betting first period hockey plays?

When tracking it on a daily basis, there are really no league-wide systems, but the best gauge is simply going team-by-team and seeing which teams are on streaks from either a side or total perspective. 

Looking at what these teams do over a full season is extremely beneficial, but also keeping an eye on the short-term results may be the best way to go instead of referring back to a streak that happened a month ago.

But one thing that will ultimately be unique to everyone who handicaps sports: do you ride the streak or go against it at a certain point?

Betting on the first period in the NHL can be a profitable journey and is definitely a great option in the winter.

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