Iafrate

It has been so long, Washington Capitals coach Terry Murray has trouble remembering it. But Al Iafrate remembers Oct. 31 clearly. That's the day Murray benched him."I hadn't been benched in four years," Iafrate said, recalling the game he sat out in Edmonton. "It's part of the game. You can't let it eat at you, but, yeah, it got my attention. I've been playing better ever since."Better is an understatement.He has seven goals and nine assists in the past seven games, and his defense has been more solid.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals unloaded a mountai of frustration last night.Meeting the Patrick Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time since the Caps' collapse in the first round of the NHL playoffs last season, Washington showed a grittiness it has demonstrated rarely this season.The Caps climbed out of a two-goal hole in the second period and beat the Penguins, 6-4."We're starting to feel better about ourselves," said Caps coach Terry Murray. "We're building confidence, but we've got to be very careful with it. Life is just around the corner, and it can [turn on you]

In one corner was Al Iafrate, hockey player, fourth-fastest skater in the NHL, 6 feet 3, 220 pounds, goes by the nickname of "Wild Thing," shoulder-length brown hair with a bald spot larger than the Montreal Forum, rides a Harley and relaxes after games by lighting up a cigarette with a blowtorch.In the other corner was Cathy Turner, short-track speed skater, 1992 Winter Olympic gold medalist, 5 feet 3, 130 pounds, a former lounge singer who wrote the song "Sexy, Kinky Tomboy," blond hair shaved on the sides, favorite mode of transportation unknown, doesn't smoke.

LANDOVER -- With the song "Wild Thing" blaring through the Capital Centre sound system, Washington Capitals defenseman Al Iafrate skated up to the puck and swung. The official clock registered the speed of his slap shot.It read: 101.4 mph."Damn," said Iafrate, who became the first NHL player to hit a puck over the 100-mph barrier. "I can't believe it."Believe it.Iafrate shattered the record of 98.7 mph held by the Chicago Blackhawks' Chris Chelios.An NHL representative was on hand to collect the history-making stick for inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

MONTREAL -- As the temperature dipped toward 15-below and the snow swirled in the streets of this glistening city, Al Iafrate performed like a whirlwind on the hallowed ice of the Montreal Forum.Pride was on the line last night. Iafrate -- "Wild Thing" to Washington Capitals fans -- was out to defend his record."It was there, and I had to do it," he said after melting the clock with a 105.2-mph blast. "It was good to meet the challenge."And there was more than one.The first came from himself.

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Every second counts to an expansion franchise.Such was the lesson the Washington Capitals taught the Ottawa Senators in a 4-3 win last night.In the blink of an eye, a Capitals deficit became a Senators deficit. Goals by Mike Ridley and Al Iafrate 16 seconds apart midway through the third period made all the difference.The Capitals played just well enough to win, turning their game up a notch in the third."Our power play scored us the big goal [Ridley's], and I think that was the difference," said defenseman Iafrate, who scored for the third consecutive game and has 25 points in his past 14 games.

Two Manchester residents were arrested Thursday in connection with two north Carroll County thefts, court records said. Philip Michael Iafrate, 20, of the 3200 block of Beaver St., and Melissa Jean Spinicchia, 19, of the 3200 block of Farm Lane, were charged. Each faces two counts of first-degree burglary, theft greater than $300 and conspiracy to commit both crimes. Spinicchia was being held in lieu of $15,000 bond. Iafrate waived a bail review of his $20,000 bond. On July 27, property valued at more than $1,800 was stolen from a home on Doefield Road in Manchester, according to court records.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- If you want to judge where the Washington Capitals are, watch how they react if they manage to take a two-goal lead against the Ottawa Senators tonight.They insist they have learned their lesson about losing leads, but they still showed signs of carelessness over an otherwise successful weekend. On Friday night, they permitted two goals in 14 seconds at the end of their home blowout of the New York Rangers. Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum, they gave up a two-goal lead before escaping with a 5-3 victory against the New York Islanders.

LANDOVER -- Terry Murray's worst fears came true last night at the Capital Centre.Forty-eight hours after an emotional victory over the Montreal Canadiens, his Washington Capitals came out flat in the first period against the struggling New York Islanders.Washington gave up two first-period goals to the Islanders and couldn't quite recover despite a frantic two-goal, third-period rally and lost, 3-2, before a crowd of 17,366.The same fans who were cheering the Capitals' comeback were booing a little in the first period.