Total wagering is a popular play in NHL betting. Also known as the over/under, this wager sets a bar and then asks a simple question of bettors – will the two teams go over or under that bar?
For instance, a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild might have a total of 5.5 assigned to it by Caesars Sportsbook or other legal in NY betting sites. This is the total goals that will be scored by both teams in the game. A wager on the total would either be that the two teams will go over 5.5 goals, or under 5.5 goals.
Adding To The Total
The simplicity of total wagering is what gives the bet such popularity. And it’s the popularity of total wagering that gave oddsmakers the idea to expand the options for over/under betting during an NHL game.
One easy twist was to include one team totals. In that aforementioned Wild-Ducks game, you would be wagering on one team’s total goals rather than both clubs.
Hockey is a game of three periods, with overtime or shootouts to decide the outcome, since tie games are not permitted. Online betting apps in New York such as Barstool Sportsbook came up with the idea to assign total wagers to each period of the game.
Generally, the standard for NHL first period total betting is 1.5 goals. Again, the bettor’s choice is to wager on over or under that total.
Each outcome is assigned NHL betting odds. For instance, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning, the over 1.5 goals was -130 and the under 1.5 goals was set at -104.
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