There’s something brewing in the first periods of the Stanley Cup Final.
Despite very low goal totals for the full game (both games were lined around O/U 5 o-130), both first periods have been relatively high scoring. The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning each scored a goal in the first period of Game 1. Tampa blitzed out to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of Game 2.
You can actually bet on first periods, which not many people know. Both first period totals were lined at O/U 1.5 goals with plus money on the over. And as you just read, both Cup Final games went over in the first period with two and three goals respectively.
PointsBet Sportsbook is dealing Over 1.5 first period goals at +115 in Game 3 tonight.[[ad:athena]]
My buddy Alex Smith is an extremely sharp hockey mind. He’s the one that put me on to the first period overs for this series, but he’s been tracking the trend for years.
Back in 2018 when I worked at VSIN, Smith unearthed an incredible first period over trend for the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Those six teams cashed first period overs at a 65 percent clip or better that season. Most of them were hitting in the 70 percent range.
Fast forward to tonight, where the Lightning and Stars come in smoking hot in the first period. Tampa is 6-2 to the Over in their last eight first periods. If you remove the slow, trudging series against Vegas, Dallas Overs are 10-and-4 in their last 14. That’ll do.
Both clubs certainly understand the importance of playing with pace early and getting off to a good start. Each team has spoken at lengths about how crucial it is to light the lamp first. The speed of the game has been frantic out of the chute and I don’t expect that to change.
It’s a 20 minute bet and we need at least two goals. Are you in?
Play on Lightning-Stars Over 1.5 first period goals (+115).
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