NHL Totals Betting
NHL totals refer to the number of goals scored in the game by both teams. Unless otherwise stated, NHL totals always include the overtime period.
In this market, we are looking to wager on the over or under on the number of goals in an NHL game given to us by the oddsmakers or sportsbooks.
Betting on NHL totals can be an extremely profitable betting market if you can learn to handicap them correctly.
They are not as widely wagered as puck lines or moneylines, but NHL sports betting totals can be just as profitable as those markets.
More About Betting NHL Totals
Top Online Sportsbooks For NHL Totals 2024
How To Bet NHL Totals
Every betting site online will offer NHL totals, but there are some aspects to keep in mind before choosing your sportsbook and making a deposit.
Follow the steps below to easily place an NHL totals wager.
- Sign-Up At An Online Sportsbook – Don’t just sign up at any online sportsbook you find online. Check out our guide to the best NHL betting sites. We will steer you in the right direction.
- Check NHL Total Betting Limits – If NHL totals are going to be a significant focus for you, it’s worth checking out the max bets for NHL totals before you deposit. We will touch on this more in the article, but these can differ quite a bit between betting sites.
- Make Your Deposit – This can be done in several ways, including traditional methods such as debit cards and credit cards, but we recommend cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. They come with zero deposits and withdrawal fees.
- Find NHL Totals Markets – These will be easy to find as they are listed under ‘NHL’ or ‘Hockey’ under the betting menu. NHL sports betting totals will be listed right next to the NHL sports betting totals.
- Place Your Bet – Be sure you have the correct selection (team) and amount before submitting your wager. Many sportsbooks have one-click confirmations on bets, so your bet may be locked in after one-click.
If you’re familiar with totals betting, wagering on NHL totals betting markets will be a breeze to understand.
However, even if you’re new to betting on totals or the NHL, the concepts aren’t too tricky.
Read below, and you will be able to understand NHL totals quickly and can begin wagering in a matter of minutes.
Here’s an example of an NHL game, with betting odds, as you might see at any major online sportsbook:
| Pittsburgh Penguins(-145) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (+130) Total Goals: 5.5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Over 5.5 (-115) |  | |
| Under 5.5 (-105) | ||
This matchup is between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins are the favorite in the game and the total is set at 5.5 goals.
Both the moneylines and total have moneyline odds attached to them. These can be adjusted depending on the betting action coming in at the sportsbook.
The basis of moneyline or American odds is that they are centered on the amount of $100. These odds are the basis for most American sports.
Important To Remember
Using the totals below, we can wager on the ‘over 5.5’ or ‘under 5.5’. These both come with moneyline odds of -115 and -105, respectively.
- Over. 5.5 (-115)
- Under 5.5 (-105)
If we place a bet on the ‘over 5.5 runs’, then we need the total number of runs in the game to be five or more.
For the under to win, the game needs to have five runs or fewer. If so, then our under bet is graded as a winner.
That is as simple and straightforward as it gets as far as sports betting goes. Now, let’s move how to handicap NHL totals.
Best Online sportsbooks To Bet On NHL Hockey Totals 2024
Finding a trusted hockey betting site is essential before you place your NHL totals wagers! MyBookie is a great site to bet on hockey totals.
| Rank | NHL Betting Sites | Deposit Bonus | Highlights | Get Started |
| #1 |  | 50% Up To $1,000 |
| Bet Now |
| #2 |  | 50% Up To $1,000 |
| Bet Now |
Looking For More Top Sportsbooks? Check Out Our List Of The Best NHL Betting Sites
Tips For Betting NHL Totals
Like every other sport on the planet, there are excellent strategies to implement when wagering on hockey totals.
The best NHL totals strategies use a multifaceted approach of profitable sports betting knowledge and expertise in NHL betting markets.
Line Shopping
Consistently shopping your bets for the best possible odds will always make you a lot of money in the long run.
For NHL totals, this is equally, if not, more vital than other sports. In addition to getting that extra half-point on a total, many sportsbooks also offer dime lines, for NHL betting, in addition to MLB dime lines.
This is a significant edge compared to many sportsbooks that deal 20 cent lines or worse.
Key Numbers For NHL Totals
Around 30 percent of NHL games finish with five goals. Since there are no ties in hockey, a game that ends at 2-2 after the third period will always have an extra goal or 5th goal.
Even if there is no goal in the overtime period, the teams go to a shootout to decide the winner. Getting on the right side of five goals is crucial to success when if you want to handicap the NHL successfully.
Pro Tip:
Bettors should look to take the over on 5 goals, because if a game is stuck at 2-2 after regulation, then they will guarantee themselves at least a push in overtime.
Likewise, if they grab under 5.5 goals or better, they will have a winner if the game goes to overtime at 2-2.
Most totals in NHL fall into the 5 to 5.5 range, with some at 6 and a rare 6.5 total. But, since most totals fall into the 5 and 5.5 range, we want to get the best value in this range depending on which side we want to bet.
Getting on the right side of 6 and 6.5 also has some value, but not to the same extent as five goals.
Consider NHL Team Totals Instead Of Game Totals
NHL game totals are not always the best option. Instead, bettors should sometimes favor team totals compared to full game totals.
You may feel the implied total for a team is too low, and there may be a better value there compared to betting the game.
NHL implied totals may not always match up with team totals. Most team totals are at 2.5 goals, so if you win your team’s total bet, it’s likely that the game will hit 5.5 goals, as well.
However, you will be able to put your bankroll on the side where you believe there is an advantage to be had.
Max Bets On NHL Totals
The maximum bet size on NHL totals is easily the lowest of any major sport. Generally, betting limits for NHL markets are not very high, but totals can be even lower in some cases.
Even some sportsbooks with substantial betting limits for other major sports have just a $500 max bet when it comes to NHL totals.
MyBookie.ag does take $1,000 on NHL markets, aside from player propositions and team toals. That is the highest amount we have seen available as a default max bet from our top reviewed betting sites.
NHL Totals Betting System
Many bettors search for a “betting system” that will give them an edge on a large number of games. Basically, they are searching for a factor or edge that the oddsmakers have not adjusted in their wagering line or total.
While these NHL betting systems do exist, they’re not exactly available to the public or posted on the internet. This is for the simple fact being that if everyone knew about them, the sportsbooks would adjust quickly.
Instead of trying to find a miracle NHL totals betting system on some internet sports betting forum, use the above tips to improve your strategy and gain an edge where you can find it.
