Montreal's defenseman delivers a 97.22 mph strike to make his mark against Utah.
The 25-year-old defenseman reached the milestone with 2:50 remaining in the first period at the Bell Centre. Xhekaj fired a one-timer from the left point that beat Utah goaltender Sebastian Cossa, bringing Montreal level at 2-2. The goal marked his first of the season and helped the Canadiens respond after falling behind by two goals early in the contest.
Xhekaj's accomplishment comes with an important distinction. His 97.22 mph effort established the fastest goal-producing shot of the season at the time, but it was not the hardest overall shot attempt recorded in the league. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar held that distinction after registering a 101.90 mph attempt on October 7. The two records measure different achievements, with Xhekaj leading in shot speed resulting in a goal and Makar holding the overall hardest-shot mark.
For Xhekaj, the game combined an important individual achievement with a valuable contribution to the team's victory. His first goal of the season came from a 97.22 mph attempt that surpassed the previous goal-producing shot-speed mark. Although Makar maintained the overall hardest-shot record, Xhekaj earned the distinction of recording the NHL's hardest shot resulting in a goal at that stage of the 2026-27 campaign.
The achievement also added to Xhekaj's established career shooting numbers, with his current-season rankings and previous performance measurements highlighting his ability to generate significant power from the blue line.