How is NHL first-period scoring measured here?

Every number comes from logged final period-by-period scores — 901 games over the last year. "For" is what the team scored in the opening period; "against" is what they gave up.

How do bettors use first-period stats?

Mostly for first-period and half-time markets: if a team consistently starts fast or slow, that's worth knowing before taking an early-game over, under or lead bet. Check the number, then check the price on the live odds board.

NHL · 901 games logged

Who starts fast: first-period scoring

P3 is the highest-scoring period in the NHL (average 2.1 combined goals). The fastest starters are Carolina Hurricanes at 1.3 first-period goals a game, against a league average of 0.9.

P11.8

P22.1

P32.1

Average combined goals per period, league-wide.

Team	Games	A goal lands	They score	1st-period goals for	Against
Carolina Hurricanes	71	90%	77%	1.3	0.8
Columbus Blue Jackets	50	90%	72%	1.2	0.8
Buffalo Sabres	65	86%	69%	1.1	0.9
New York Rangers	50	86%	64%	0.9	0.9
Utah Mammoth	57	86%	65%	1.0	0.8
Montreal Canadiens	71	86%	70%	1.0	1.0
Minnesota Wild	61	85%	62%	1.0	0.9
Seattle Kraken	53	85%	60%	1.0	0.9
Chicago Blackhawks	52	85%	62%	0.8	1.0
Pittsburgh Penguins	58	84%	71%	1.1	0.7
Edmonton Oilers	56	84%	71%	1.1	1.0
Detroit Red Wings	49	84%	47%	0.6	0.9
Nashville Predators	52	83%	56%	0.9	1.0
Vancouver Canucks	52	83%	50%	0.7	1.2
Philadelphia Flyers	63	83%	48%	0.7	0.8
Dallas Stars	57	82%	65%	0.9	0.8
Florida Panthers	51	82%	61%	1.0	0.9
Los Angeles Kings	55	82%	60%	0.8	0.9
Vegas Golden Knights	75	81%	47%	0.7	0.9
Boston Bruins	57	81%	56%	1.0	0.7
Ottawa Senators	57	81%	60%	0.9	0.9
Anaheim Ducks	62	81%	55%	0.8	1.1
San Jose Sharks	51	80%	57%	0.9	1.0
Toronto Maple Leafs	51	80%	49%	0.7	1.1
New Jersey Devils	50	80%	54%	0.7	0.8
Winnipeg Jets	53	79%	60%	0.8	0.7
Calgary Flames	50	78%	48%	0.6	0.9
Tampa Bay Lightning	59	78%	53%	0.7	0.9
Washington Capitals	50	76%	58%	0.9	0.7
St. Louis Blues	50	76%	50%	0.7	1.0
New York Islanders	50	76%	42%	0.6	0.9
Colorado Avalanche	64	75%	55%	1.1	0.8

Last 400 days of completed games; teams need at least 8 logged games to appear. Rates update as new games are logged. Last build: 2026-10-09 06:49 UTC.

These numbers meet a price: first-period and half-time markets are on the live NHL odds board — or start with our free NHL pick.

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ATP 14 games

Cricket 4 games

WTA 2 games

Bundesliga 1 game

Ligue 1 1 game

EFL 1 game

NHL 4 games

NCAAF 5 games

WNBA 2 games

UFC 6 games

Who starts fast: first-period scoring

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