Game 53 Preview: Fort Wayne vs. Iowa

Iowa has won 5 straight, rematch Saturday

Coralville, Iowa - The Iowa Heartlanders (22-23-6-1, 51 pts.) have won five straight games and prepare for another home game vs. the Fort Wayne Komets (25-18-5-1, 56 pts.) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Xtream Arena.Over the five-game winning streak, Iowa has scored 25 goals and allowed 13. Corbin Kaczperski made 30 saves Friday vs. Fort Wayne in the victory, his first ECHL game since Jan. 23. Jake Smith scored twice. Ryan Kuffner finished with one assist and is on a 15-game points streak, longest in Iowa history.Iowa leads the season series, 3-2-0-0.Saturday’s game is Paint with the Heartlanders, thanks to Brush and Barrel, and features a special guided painting for those that sign up ahead of Saturday’s game. Call the Heartlanders ticket office for more details.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.Promo: Paint with the Heartlanders, thanks to Brush and BarrelBroadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv.NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Fort Wayne Komets (Vegas Golden Knights/Henderson Silver Knights)Last Time OutJake Smith scored twice in the third period and the Heartlanders never trailed, riding Smith’s fourth career multi-goal game to a 4-2 win at Xtream Arena Friday. Cole Stallard scored his 10th of the season. Ben Sokay has tallied in four straight contests.Kaid Oliver finished with three primary assists and has 30 helpers this season.Saturday Nights at XtreamIowa is playing its second Saturday night home game of the month and its sixth of the season. Iowa won its first Saturday night home game against Toledo on Dec. 11, a come-from-behind effort that featured three unanswered Landers goals in the final period. Overall Iowa is 7-7-1-0 on Saturdays.Saturday’s game is the second game of a back-to-back, which has been kind to the Landers. Since Dec. 4, a 2-1 Iowa win at Fort Wayne, the Landers have gone 8-2-1-0 when playing for the second straight day.The Landers have 2 more Saturday home games in March (Mar. 12 vs. Kalamazoo, Mar. 26 vs. Cincinnati) and one in April (Apr. 9 vs. Indy).Scouting Fort Wayne Head Coach Ben Boudreau is in his 3rd season with the Komets, his first experience as a professional Head Coach. He has spent five seasons with the Komets organization and was an assistant from 2017-19. Last season, he led Fort Wayne to its first Kelly Cup Championship, defeating then South Carolina Stingrays in the Finals. Six Komets that played for Fort Wayne in their 2021 Kelly Cup run are back in the Summit City and have played at least one game this season. That includes long-time leader Shawn Szydlowski, who has tallied 22 points in 20 games since returning from an early-season injury.Upcoming Home GamesSaturday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne – Paint with the Heartlanders, thanks to Brush and BarrelWednesday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne – College Night, pres. by Hills BankFriday, Mar. 11th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne – Military Appreciation Night, pres. by GreenState Credit UnionThe 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.