Mr. Big Shot: Iafrate Clocked at 101.4 M.P.H.

Washington Capital defenseman Al Iafrate skated up to the puck and swung. The official clock registered the speed of his slap shot.

It read 101.4 m.p.h.

“I can’t believe it,” said Iafrate, who became the first NHL player to hit a puck over 100 m.p.h. “It’s neat to be first.”

Iafrate shattered the record of 98.7 m.p.h. held by Chicago’s Chris Chelios.

The shot was the highlight of Washington’s part of the Score-NHL Superskills competition Wednesday night and was witnessed by a crowd estimated at 8,900.

The Superskills competition is being held in all 24 NHL cities this year for the first time. The top four qualifiers for hardest shot and fastest skater in each conference will advance to the league finals during NHL All-Star weekend in Montreal, Feb. 5-6.