Game 30 Preview: Iowa at Rapid City

Road-heavy January continues at Rapid City

Rapid City, SD  – The Iowa Heartlanders (9-16-3-1, 22 pts.) and Rapid City Rush (13-13-2-0, 30 pts.) meet for the first time ever to kick off a three-game set Friday at 8:05 p.m. The teams play three straight days at The Monument and Iowa is looking for its 10th ever win.The Heartlanders are looking to snap a three-game slide that has featured a handful of close games; last time out the Landers trailed by one in the third period before ultimately falling, 4-1, Sunday at Indy. The game before was another one-goal contest in the third period a week ago at Fort Wayne.Rapid City has boosted to third in the Mountain Division with points in three of their last four (2-1-1-0). The Rush surrendered six goals to Utah on Jan. 1 and dropped, 6-4, in the team’s last game Jan. 1. 

Iowa’s next home game is Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kansas City on Hockey is for Everyone Night. The team will wear special jerseys.Broadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv. NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Rapid City Rush (Arizona Coyotes, Tuscon Roadrunners)Last Time OutCorbin Kaczperski continued to dazzle with 31 saves on 34 shots, but the Iowa Heartlanders fell by a 4-1 score at Indy on Jan. 2. Kaczperski has started the last two Heartlanders games and allowed four total goals.He has generated a 2.03 goals against average and .942 save percentage in three ECHL games.Jake Smith scored his first ECHL goal in defeat.

Season SeriesFriday marks the first of three games vs. the Rush this season. After this weekend “three-in-three,” Iowa does not play the Rush again this regular season.The only way the Rush and Heartlanders can meet again this season is if each team makes the Western Conference Finals. The top-four teams in each division qualify for the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs; Iowa is in the Central Division and Rapid City plays in the Mountain.   Scouting the RushThe Rush have had a number of their top offensive performers head up to the AHL in recent days, including their top three points producers Logan Nelson (35), Stephen Baylis (27) and Max Coatta (22). Nelson leads the ECHL in assists (25), points (35), power-play points (16) and shots on goal (139) this season.Former Iowa Heartlanders forward Brett Gravelle has scored eight goals and 13 points this season; he played in one Heartlanders game in October vs. Wheeling.If Gravelle plays Friday, it would mark the first time the Heartlanders will face one of their former players.Upcoming Home GamesFriday, January 14th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kansas City: Hockey is for Everyone™ NightWednesday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Indy – Sports Career Fair / College NightFriday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo - Boy Scouts NightSaturday, January 29th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo – Marvel ™ theme nightThe Heartlanders Season ticket memberships, group tickets, mini-plans, flex vouchers and single-game tickets are available for the Heartlanders inaugural season by calling 319-569-GOAL and visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets.