Game 42 Preview: Iowa at Cincinnati

Landers trek to Ohio for start of three-game road trip

Cincinnati, OH - The Iowa Heartlanders (15-20-5-1, 36 pts.) remain squarely in the hunt for the ECHL postseason, looking to right the ship on the road at the Cincinnati Cyclones (22-16-1-0, 45 pts.) Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Iowa finished its winningest month and team history in January, including a stretch where the squad went 6-1-2-0.Iowa has won back-to-back road contests. On the other side, Cincinnati won both its home contests last Friday and Saturday, outscoring opponents, 12-3. That snapped a season-long five-game losing streak.The Heartlanders are six points back of Kalamazoo of the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. The top-four teams qualify for the postseason. In the event each Central Division team cannot play the full 72-game season, the top-four teams by points percentage will qualify for the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs.On the roster front, goaltender Dereck Baribeau was reassigned to Iowa from the Iowa Wild by the Minnesota Wild Monday. Baribeau is 4-7-1 with a 3.10 goals against average and .903 save percentage in the AHL this season.Tavern Blue Fore Packs are available for all home games this season, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, VIP Parking and discounts from Tavern Blue restaurant. Tickets for the game are also available by calling 319-569-PUCK.Broadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv.NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Cincinnati Cyclones (Buffalo Sabres/Rochester Americans)Last Time OutRyan Kuffner scored for the second straight game and Billy Constantinou wired his fifth of the season, but two goals in 10 seconds foiled the Landers, 3-2, Saturday vs. Kalamazoo. Iowa had its largest crowd since opening night to watch the game as the team hosted Marvel Super Hero Night.Kuffner has four goals this season, three in the last two games. Constantinou tops Heartlanders defensemen in goals.Trevor Gorsuch starred for Kalamazoo, allowing two goals for the second straight game. Iowa out shot the K-Wings both games last weekend, but Gorsuch made 72 saves combined between Friday and Saturday (4 GA). Cyclones history The Cyclones have been in the ECHL in their current iteration since 2006. The squad won two Kelly Cups in its first four years (2008 and 2010). Cincinnati was in the ECHL from 1990-92 and 2001-03 as well. There has been a professional hockey team every season in the Queen City since 1990 and the city’s hockey history goes back to 1949 when the Mohawks played in the AHL.Starting this 3-in-4Iowa will play three road games in four days, a common Wednesday-Friday-Saturday swing in the ECHL. This is the second straight week Iowa plays a three-in-four and every week of February features a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday game.The Landers have played 41 games, most in the division and third-most in the conference.Bennett-Kuffner remix Kris Bennett returned from the AHL’s Iowa Wild last Saturday and assisted Iowa’s first goal in the first period against Kalamazoo, finding Ryan Kuffner to tie the contest at one. Bennett also assisted Kuffner on the first goal in team history at :25 of the first period vs. Kansas City. Saturday’s game was the first time Bennett and Kuffner each played in a Heartlanders game since Nov. 24.Bennett is tied for the team lead with 12 goals and ranks third on the squad with 25 points in 19 games.What’s NextThe Heartlanders continue a three-game road trip at Toledo Friday at 6:15 p.m. and then oppose Wheeling on Saturday at 6:10 p.m. All contests can be heard on iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive, mixlr.com/goheartlanders and at flohockey.tv.Upcoming Home GamesWednesday, February  9th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Utah – College NightFriday, February 11th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Utah – Faith & Family NightSaturday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Utah – Pink in the Rink 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.