Game 34 Preview: Iowa at Indy

Indianapolis, IN - The Iowa Heartlanders (11-17-4-1, 27 pts.) and Indy Fuel (13-14-2-2, 30 pts.) square off for the fourth time in the season series Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The game marks the second of a three games in three days stretch for the Heartlanders. In Iowa’s last game Friday vs. Kansas City, the Landers overcame a 3-0 deficit, scored four of the next five and forced overtime vs. Kansas City in a 5-4 extra-session defeat.Indy holds a slight 2-1-0-0 season-series edge on the Landers; the home team has won every game of the season series.The Fuel played Friday at Fort Wayne and scored the first three goals, hanging on to win by a 4-2 score with a final-seconds empty-net goal.Iowa’s next home game is Wed., Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. vs Indy for College Night.Broadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv.NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Indy Fuel (Chicago Blackhawks/Rockford IceHogs)Smith on fireJake Smith followed up a career-best five-point performance last Sunday vs. Rapid City with three more in Friday’s overtime loss against Kansas City. He has scored all seven of goals in the last five games and is now fourth on the team in goals. The Heartlanders signed Smith in December after he skated in five games with Kansas City earlier this season. He has 12 points on the campaign and scored his first ECHL goal against Indy Jan. 2.Last Time OutThe Iowa Heartlanders overcame a 3-0 deficit with three straight goals in the second period, then scored once more in the third to tie, but Kansas City’s Loren Ulett scored on overtime’s first shot at 26 seconds of the extra session to savor a 5-4 win for the Mavericks Friday at Xtream Arena. Jake Smith scored twice for the Landers in the second period and finished with a team-best three points.Iowa scored three times in 2:59 to tie the contest. Jake Smith factored in on all three goals, scoring twice. With 4:16 to go in the second, Smith received a pass from Joe Widmar and rifled a wrister over Chechelev’s shoulder to make it 3-1 on the power play. Next, Smith swung a puck to net front that Jack Billings tossed in for his 10th of the season, making it 3-2 a minute later. To complete the goal run for the Heartlanders, Smith slapped home a power-play marker, his seventh of the season, and Iowa tied the score with 1:17 to go in the second.Season SeriesThe Heartlanders won their first game of the season series on Nov. 12 vs. Indy, 5-3. Trevin Kozlowski blocked 26 shots for his first professional victory and Iowa scored four times against Cale Morris (32 shots). Kaid Oliver tallied his first pro goal, Kris Bennett scored twice and Cole Stallard notched his first in the ECHL. Entering this weekend, 12 of the 18 players that dressed that day are still rostered by the Heartlanders.Indy won the last game of the series, 4-1, on Jan. 2. Jake Smith scored his first ECHL goal in the contest. Iowa trailed, 2-1, at 1:20 of the third after that goal, but Seamus Malone tallied the next two for Indy.Kaid Oliver tops Iowa with four points against the Fuel. Kris Bennett, currently recalled to the AHL, is the only Iowa player with two goals in the series. Chat Yetman and Seamus Malone each have scored twice against Iowa.Scouting the FuelThe Fuel are riding a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season, and have gone 5-1-0-1 since dropping Dec. 26 at Fort Wayne. Over the span,  Indy has scored 26 goals and allowed 16.The club is starting a four-game home stand Saturday.So far this season, Norfolk is the only out-of-division opponent to visit the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, one of nine cross-division games Indy has this season. By contrast, Iowa plays Kansas City nine times, Rapid City three times, Utah thrice, Allen for a three-game set and Wichita and Tulsa twice (22 games vs. Mountain Division).Upcoming Home GamesWednesday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Indy – 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.