Hockey Over/Under Explained — NHL Totals Betting Guide

Most NHL totals are set at 5.5 goals, with –110 juice on both sides. Bet the Over and you need six or more combined goals; bet the Under and five or fewer wins. Overtime and shootout goals count toward the final total, so a 2–2 tie after regulation that ends 3–2 in OT grades as five goals — an Under.

What Is an Over/Under Bet in Hockey?

An over/under — also called a totals bet — is a wager on the combined goals scored by both teams in a game. The sportsbook sets a line; you decide whether the actual total finishes above or below it. You're not picking a winner. That simplicity makes totals one of the first bets beginners tackle after the hockey moneyline.

The standard NHL total is 5.5. Because it's a half-goal, a push is impossible on a 5.5 line — someone always wins. When a book posts a whole-number total (say, 6), and the game ends 3–3 in regulation then goes to a shootout with no OT goal, the combined score is exactly 6. That's a push: all wagers are refunded in full.

How Does the –110 Juice Work on Totals?

Standard juice on both the Over and Under is –110. Bet $110 to profit $100. The book collects from the losing side and keeps a margin — the implied house edge on a –110/–110 market is roughly 4.5%. That's the vig. How to read NHL odds covers the full math on implied probability and vig if you want to dig deeper.

Do Overtime and Shootout Goals Count?

Yes. Every goal — regulation, OT, shootout — is included in the final count used to grade your bet. A scoreless 3OT thriller still settles the over/under when the final buzzer sounds. This differs from three-way moneyline markets, which grade on regulation only.

One edge case worth knowing: a regulation shootout produces exactly one goal for the winning team (the "winning" shot only). So a 2–2 game decided in a shootout grades as a 3-goal final, not 4.

What Makes a Good Over/Under Bet for NHL Beginners?

Totals suit bettors who'd rather analyze scoring environments than pick a winner outright. Back goaltender matchups, pace of play, and team defensive depth — not just offensive firepower. Check the best NHL betting sites to compare how different books set their lines; a half-goal difference between books matters a lot on a 5.5 total.

For a full map of every market available — props, futures, puck lines — visit NHL bet types: every hockey wager explained. Knowing how totals fit alongside other bet types sharpens how you allocate your action across a slate.

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