Heartlanders and Nailers start back-to-back Friday

Wheeling, WV – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, visit the Wheeling Nailers for the first of three straight games Friday at 6:10 p.m.Iowa is starting its third straight three-in-three (games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The three games this week are on the road with some travel mixed in; Iowa plays Wheeling Friday and Saturday, then visits Fort Wayne on Sunday.The Landers are looking to get a points streak going after falling in overtime, 3-2, to Fort Wayne Sunday at Xtream Arena.Wheeling is tied with Fort Wayne for the fourth and final playoff spot in then Central Division. The Nailers have played two more games than Fort Wayne. Kalamazoo trails each team by five points.Friday is the second of ten meetings between the clubs; Wheeling won the opener Oct. 30, 2-0.Tickets are available for all Heartlanders home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotionsBroadcast Coverage: Watch online at flohockey.tv. Listen on mixlr.com/goheartlanders.Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)Last Time OutThe Iowa Heartlanders received a pair of goals from Tommy Parrotitno, but could not hold on to a one-goal third period lead and eventually fell, 3-2, in the extra session.The Landers took the lead at the 10:16 mark of the second on a goal set up by Clayton Phillips on a two-on-one rush.Hunter Jones made a career-best 45 saves in defeat. Shawn Boudrias scored the overtime winner on a breakaway two minutes into overtime. Ryan Parenteau bested Iowa with 32 saves.Hunter Jones appreciationHunter Jones has helped Iowa get at least a point eight times and Sunday was his best-save performance of his career (45 saves on 48 shots). Jones’ first win of the season came with 28 saves on Dec. 14 in a 5-1 win over Kalamazoo.Jones has made at least 30 saves in three games this season and is looking for his win of the season when making 30-plus saves. In each of those three games, Iowa has scored two goals or fewer. Jones has had a decision in 18 games this season and Iowa has supported him with 41 goals in those decisions (2.3 goals per game of goal support).The Brantford, ON native fell three saves short of the team record; last season, Trevin Kozlowski blocked 48 of 49 shots in a 2-1 victory at Fort Wayne Dec. 4, 2021.Parrottino named Bathfitter Player of the MonthTommy Parrottino capped off a strong January with two goals Sunday vs. Fort Wayne. He topped Iowa with five goals and seven points last month.He leads Iowa with 11 goals and also has two multi-goal games, tied with Cole Stallard for best on the team. He’s the only Heartlanders player to hit double-digit goals this season and ranks third on the team with 19 points.Scouting the Nailers The Nailers have hovered around .500 the entire year; the club has never been more than three games below two games above hockey .500.Despite that, the club has consistently gotten points the last month and a half, going 8-4-4-0 over their last 16 games.In January, Carter Johnson led the team with five goals and 11 points.  Rookie Justin Adammo is best on the team with 18 goals. Cedric Desruisseaux tops Wheeling with 31 points and is second at 14 goals.Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions. The Heartlanders are back at home Wed., Feb. 8 to play the Indy Fuel at 7:05 p.m.Iowa starts a seven-game home stand on Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Wheeling. Feb. 17 – Feb. 19 is the start of Iowa’s Cancer Awareness Series, honoring those that have fought, are currently fighting or have battled cancer. Specialty theme jerseys will be worn for the weekend and are available for purchase inclusive of a postgame meet-and-greet on the DASH App. The games against Wheeling are Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:05 p.m., Sat. Feb. 18 at 7:05 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 19 at 2:05 p.m.The Heartlanders continue the home stand Feb. 22, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 vs. Indy for Iowa’s Diversity Awareness Series, celebrating how sports bring us together. The Heartlanders will demonstrate their commitment to create and environment that fosters inclusion for all. Games take place Wed., Feb. 22 vs. Indy at 7:05 p.m., Fri., Feb. 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo and Sat., Feb. 25 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo.Single-game tickets, group ticket options, partial plans and season ticket memberships are available for Heartlanders home games at Xtream Arena.  Call 319-569-GOAL or visit iowaheartlanders.com/tickets for more information.