Game 2 Central Division Semifinals Preview: Iowa at Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN - The Iowa Heartlanders visit the Fort Wayne Komets again for Game 2 of the Central Division Semifinals Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Iowa leads the best-of-seven series, 1-0. The Heartlanders opened the series with a 5-3 win over Fort Wayne on the road Friday. Gavin Hain scored the game-winning goal and led all players with three points. 

Watch Parties For Game 2 are tonight at Iowa Athletic Club in Coralville and Brothers Bar & Grill in Iowa City. 

Home Playoff Tickets are available for our first-round series against Fort Wayne at iowaheartlanders.com/playoffs. 

Iowa is at home on Monday, Apr. 21 at 7:05 p.m. for Game 3 of the Central Division Semifinals, with a Heartlanders Playoff Rally Towel giveaway brought to you by the Iowa City Sports Commission. Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 7:05 p.m. is Game 4 featuring a Heartlanders Playoff Cowbell Giveaway thanks to Pinseekers. Game 5 (if necessary) is Thursday., Apr. 24 at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets to Heartlanders Home Games

Know Before You Go Guide For Home Games

Broadcast Information

Audio Broadcast: Mixlr.com/GoHeartlanders

FloHockey Video Broadcast (Subscription Service): https://flosports.link/3AZr3GZ

Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Fort Wayne Komets (Edmonton Oilers/Bakersfield Condors)

Need To Know:
- Matt Sop scored Iowa’s first-ever Kelly Cup Playoffs goal Friday.
- Ten Heartlanders registered points in Friday’s win. 

- Friday was Iowa’s first regular season or playoff game at Fort Wayne since January 2024. Iowa has won back-to-back games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Game 1 Recap

The Heartlanders scored the first three goals, then added two in the third to pull away from the Komets, 5-3, Friday and open up a 1-0 series edge in the Central Division Semifinals. 

Gavin Hain registered three points (1g, 2a), tying a career best. Friday was his third-ever three-point night. 

Adam Goodsir scored a short-handed goal with six minutes to go to make it 5-2 Iowa.

Alex Aleardi scored twice for Fort Wayne in defeat. 

Kyle McClellan blocked 24 shots for his first playoff victory. Brett Brochu stopped 27 in defeat. 

Matt Sop, Dakota Raabe and Keltie Jeri-Leon gave Iowa a 3-0 edge.

Jeri-Leon’s goal came on a rip from the mid slot at 14:36 of the 2^nd on the power play. Iowa and Fort Wayne each scored a pair of power-play goals.

Heartlanders offense clicks

Iowa has scored 11 goals over the last two games going back to their win in the final game of the regular season last Sunday at Fort Wayne. This is the first time Iowa has scored at least five goals in back-to-back games since the last game of the 2023-24 regular season (7 goals) and the season opener of the 2024-25 campaign (5 goals). 

The last time it happened in the same season was Mar. 10-11 of 2023 vs. Indy and Kalamazoo.

$10 Online Youth Tickets

Available NOW! Grab $10 online youth tickets to any Heartlanders home game! Purchase 1 regular-priced ticket and get $10 online youth tickets (age 17 and under) to any seating section (excluding glass/premium seats). 

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