Iowa and Wheeling gear up for back end of 3-in-3

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, finish off the week with the back end of a three-in-three against the Wheeling Nailers Sunday at 2:05 p.m.Iowa won Friday, 5-1, then took Saturday’s game 4-3 in a feisty three-hour slugfest. The teams combined for 28 infractions and 86 penalty minutes. Seven Heartlanders and nine Nailers took at least one penalty. Zach White scored twice, including the game-winning strike with seven minutes to go.Sunday is the last two games of the team’s Cancer Awareness Series weekend, presented by DASH Auctions. All games against Wheeling this weekend will help raise money for local organizations and non-profits fighting cancer.Iowa has five games left on its season-long seven game home stand, which continues next Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Xtream Arena for the team’s Diversity Awareness Series against Indy and Kalamazoo. Tickets are available for all Heartlanders home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotionsPromotion: Cancer Awareness Series Weekend, presented by DASH Auctions, honoring those that have fought and are currently fighting cancer. Specialty theme jerseys that will be available for purchase inclusive of a post-game meet and greet throughout the weekend on the DASH App. Purchase signed collectable pucks/apparel/name plates on DASH App to support local non-profits fighting cancerBroadcast 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 used a three-goal first period to defeat the Wheeling Nailers, 4-3, in a penalty-filled game Saturday at Xtream Arena. The teams combined for 86 penalty minutes with multiple fights and misconducts throughout the night. The Heartlanders have outscored the Nailers, 9-4, over the last two games and will attempt the three-game sweep Sunday at 2 p.m. at Xtream Arena.Zach White tallied a pair of goals for Iowa: a go-ahead score in the first and the eventual-game-winning goal in the third. Darion Hanson earned the win in relief for the Heartlanders. Entering the game halfway into the first period, Hanson saved 29 shots and allowed two goals.Tanner MacMaster tallied the first goal of the game for Iowa three minutes in. MacMaster tipped in a shot at net front for his second goal in as many games. After Wheeling tied the game, 1-1, White scored on a turnaround shot near the crease to retake the lead for Iowa. Iowa’s third goal of the first period came from Tommy Parran on a wrister from the top of the right circle. The score was Parran’s first as a Heartlander. After Wheeling pulled within one, White scored his second of the night to complete the Iowa victory.Hunter Jones started in net for the Heartlanders, saving 10 of 11 shots. Brad Barone took the loss for Wheeling, allowing four goals while stopping 20. He also took four penalty minutes at the 12:15 mark of the third after allowing the game-winning goal to Zach White.Done with the new guysBoth the Heartlanders and Nailers have played all of their opponents at least once this regular season, meaning the next two months of hockey will be repeat opponents. Iowa faces 11 unique opponents in the 2022-23 regular season, while the Nailers play nine.Iowa faced its last unique opponent, Toledo, on Jan. 20. Wheeling saw Norfolk for the first time Feb. 10.Since Dec. 14, Iowa has played the following teams multiple times: Kansas City (6), Indy (5), Fort Wayne (4), Wheeling (4), Kalamazoo (3) and Toledo (3).

Sunday can be a fun day Iowa has at least a point in three of its six Sunday games and the Heartlanders are seeking their first Sunday win since Nov. 27 (Cincinnati, OT win). The Heartlanders are 2-3-0-1 on Sundays this regular season and both of their wins came at home in November. At home, Iowa has at least a point in three of five Sundays (2-1-0-1).Still plenty of home stand leftThe Heartlanders have five more games in the team’s season-long seven-game home stand.After facing off against Wheeling Sunday, the Heartlanders oppose Indy Wednesday, Kalamazoo next Friday and Saturday and Kansas City March 1.At the conclusion of the home stand, Iowa will have played 27 of team’s 36 home games this regular season. 

Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions.The Heartlanders continue a 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.Iowa completes a seven-game home stand Wed., Mar. 1 with its final game of the season against the Kansas City Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.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.