Heartlanders ride four-game point streak into weekend showdown

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, start the second half of the ECHL season against the Wheeling Nailers Friday at 6:35 p.m. 

The Heartlanders are 3-1-1-0 to begin January, matching the number of wins they had all last month. Iowa has points in four straight games (3-0-1-0). 

The Nailers have dropped four straight games. 

Both Iowa and Wheeling have 34 points, tied for sixth in the Central. Each sit two points behind Cincinnati for fifth, three back of Kalamazoo for fourth, and four back of Indy for third.

The Heartlanders are in the second game of 14 straight against the Central Division.

Promotion: Affiliation Night, celebrating the Heartlanders’ affiliation with the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, presented by DASH Auctions. Information about the Heartlanders specialty jersey auction and other items can be found by downloading the DASH Auctions App. 

Get tickets for Heartlanders Home games: Iowaheartlanders.com/tickets

 

Game Day Guide: 

5:35 PM: Doors Open

6:25 PM: Be In Your Seats For Pregame Show 

6:35 PM: Puck Drop

Watch on FloHockey: https://flosports.link/3tVsLmd

Listen on Mixlr: mixlr.com/goheartlanders

 

Need to know
- The Heartlanders are on the team’s longest points streak (4) since the club’s franchise-record nine-game points streak and seven-game winning streak in November. 

- Jake Durflinger has scored three goals in his last four games.

- Iowa scored five goals Monday in victory over Cincinnati, the club’s highest-scoring game since Dec. 3 vs. Toledo. The last time Iowa scored more than five goals in a game was Nov. 25 vs. Wheeling.

Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

Half one, summarized

The Heartlanders won 14 times in the first half of the ECHL season and earned at least a point in 20 of the 36 games, both team records for the first half of a season. 

Iowa has 11 more points (34) than it did at this time last season, and four more than it did in the 2021-22 inaugural season. 

Despite sitting in a tie for sixth, Iowa is much better positioned than it was in each of the first two seasons; the Heartlanders are only three points out of a playoff spot this season, compared to 17 through half one last year and eight in the inaugural campaign. 

DeRidder directs Monday win 

Heartlanders goaltender Drew DeRidder made a career-best 45 saves under a 49-shot onslaught from Cincinnati Monday at Xtream Arena, guiding the Heartlanders to overtime in a 5-4 win. 

DeRidder’s brilliance flashed multiple times in the second half of the game. He stopped 22 shots in the second period, the second time this season he’s made more than 20 saves in a period. 

Cincinnati’s 49 shots tied the most the Heartlanders have allowed in a game in team history. 

Next up
Iowa completes a three-game homestand vs. Wheeling on Sat., Jan. 20 at 6:05 p.m. against Wheeling. The Heartlanders are back at Xtream Arena for Dash’s Birthday Party, presented by Paul Park Real Estate. Join the Heartlanders mascot Dash and many of his mascot friends for a family-friendly Saturday night at Xtream Arena. On the 20th, youth tickets for the game are $5 with the purchase of an adult ticket. 

Join the fun at Xtream Arena in the 2023-24 season

Here are some of the best options to make sure you experience the family-friendly entertainment of Heartlanders Hockey at Xtream Arena this season!

Heartlanders 3-Pack: The perfect gift to catch Heartlanders Hockey! Receive one ticket to each of the three Heartlanders games listed below and $25 merchandise credit in The Silo-Heartlanders Team Store. Friday, January 19 @ 6:35pm – Minnesota Wild Affiliation Night | Saturday, February 10 @ 6:00pm - Cancer Awareness Night | Saturday, April 13 @ 6:00pm - Fan Appreciation Night 

18-game plans: With more than half the home season remaining, join us with an 18-game ticket plan, including the many perks, savings and advantages of being a half-season member. 

12-game plans: Grab tickets to your favorite 12 games! 12-game plans include savings on individually-priced tickets!

Flex Plans: Enjoy the service, savings and game dates that work best for you! Flex plans include “any game” ticket vouchers that are good for any home game during the 2023-24 regular season.