Fan Appreciation Weekend kicks off Friday against Wheeling

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, start their final weekend of the season with more games against the Wheeling Nailers, continuing a three-game set against their division foe Friday at 7:05 p.m.Iowa and Wheeling play Friday and Saturday, with each team completing their regular seasons. The Heartlanders and Nailers have each been eliminated from postseason contention, but Wheeling is looking to secure the fifth seed in the Central Division, leading sixth-place Kalamazoo by one point.On Wednesday, Austin Eastman debuted for Iowa with two goals, but Iowa allowed three goals in the five minutes in a 5-2 defeat. He played in 26 games for Greenville this season and scored once. Wednesday marked Eastman’s first multi-goal game.Iowa has registered at least a point in four of six home games.The Heartlanders conclude the season Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against Wheeling. Saturday’s game is presented by Steindler Orthopedic Clinic and features a game-worn jersey auction, player card giveaway thanks to the Iowa City Area Sports Commission and a fanbango giveaway for all fans (Steindler Orthopedic Clinic).Promotion: Fan Appreciation Weekend. Friday’s Game Presented by United Iowa Financial. First 250 fans receive a team photo.Broadcast 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)Season SeriesThe Heartlanders and Nailers have each won four games in the series.Most of the games in the series have been backloaded into the second half of the season; the clubs faced off once in the opening 39 games of the season (Oct. 30, 2-0 WHL win), but have since played each other seven times in 30 games.Since the opening game of the series, the Heartlanders have taken four of the next seven meetings (4-2-1-0).”Zach White tops Iowa with eight points in then series. Brendan Robbins and Steven Leonard each have three goals to top the Landers.Keltie Jeri-Leon has four goals in two games against Iowa, his only goals with the Nailers. He is the only player in the series with more than three goals.Final Weekend At HomeThe Heartlanders start their final weekend of the season with games against Wheeling on Friday and Saturday. The Nailers have visited Xtream Arena for one weekend series before; Iowa won two games and picked up five points in a three-in-three from Feb. 17-19.The Heartlanders have grabbed at least a point in ten of their last 14 home games since the start of the Wheeling series on Feb. 17.Tyler Busch has been the team’s primary driver in the home games, scoring a team-best 12 times at Xtream Arena this season. Tommy Parrottino has tallied eight goals at home and Zach White has done it ten times.Scouting WheelingThe Nailers have won three straight games and look to match a season-best four-game winning streak Friday.Brad Barone and Tommy Nappier have split starts evenly since Nappier’s return from the AHL in late February. Barone has played in four straight games and possesses a 9-9-2-0 record with Wheeling. He made 38 saves in victory Wednesday, the most saves by a Nailers goalie in a game this season.Cedric Desruisseaux has scored 29 goals this season, one away from becoming the fourth Nailer since 2010-11 to hit 30 in a campaign (Cody Wydo, 2016-17 |Reid Gardiner, 2017-18 | Patrick Watling 2021-22). Since the year 2000, eight Nailers have scored at least 30 goals in a season.Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions. The Heartlanders final two games Friday, Apr. 14 and Saturday, Apr. 15 vs. the rival Wheeling Nailers. On Apr. 14-15, it’s fan appreciation weekend, with puck drops both nights at 7:05 p.m. The game on Apr. 14 is presented by United Iowa Financial. On Apr. 15, we’re extending stick tapes to our fans with a jam-packed final home game of the regular season, including a game-worn jersey auction, player card giveaway presented by Iowa City Area Sports Commission and a fanbango giveaway presented by Steindler Orthopedic Clinic.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. Tickets are available for all Heartlanders home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions