At the 2020 All-Star skills competition , Elias Pettersson blasted the second-hardest shot of all-time by a forward in the event at 102.4 mph, but fell short to Shea Weber, whose shot registered at 106.5 mph.
This year, however, Pettersson pushed himself ahead of the rest, wiring home a shot at 103.2 mph, which was good enough to take home the victory. Pettersson opened the event with the winning speed, and nobody was able to touch him. Josh Morrissey’s shots both came in under 100 mph, as did Seth Jones’s. Rasmus Dahlin’s best shot registered at 102.3, and Alex Ovechkin’s attempt came in at 95.1 mph.
Pettersson’s shot breaks his own record for the second-hardest by a forward in the history of the event, as Steven Stamkos’ marker of 103.9 mph back in 2016 still stands alone. Like Pettersson, Stamkos lost the event that year to Shea Weber as well.
With tonight’s victory, however, Pettersson joins Alex Ovechkin as the only other forward to win the event in the last 22 years of the competition, which is typically dominated by defencemen.
“Just trying to keep it low and lay into it,” Pettersson told Sportsnet’s Kevin Bieksa following the event.
Now, not to toot my own horn too much, but earlier today, I predicted DOWN TO THE DECIMAL POINT how hard Pettersson’s shot would be.
The 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament kicks off tomorrow at noon Pacific time.
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