Game 33 Preview: Kansas City vs. Iowa

Coralville, IA - The Iowa Heartlanders (11-17-3-1, 26 pts.) face the Kansas City Mavericks (15-16-1-0, 31 pts.) on Hockey is for Everyone Night Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Xtream Arena. The team will be wearing specialty jerseys for the game, which will be made available for online auction this evening through DASH auctions (details on Heartlanders social media).It is the eighth out of nine times the teams will clash this season, the remaining game is March 5th in Kansas City. Iowa leads the season series, 4-2-1-0, including the most recent matchup, a 3-2 home victory Dec. 27. Following Friday’s game, the Heartlanders travel to Indy to duel the Fuel for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday.Iowa has won its last two games, both against the Rapid City Rush. The latest was a 9-1 blowout Sunday in South Dakota. It was the highest scoring game ever for the Heartlanders, and Jake Smith finished with the first Heartlanders hat trick (3g, 2a) and a team single-game record five points.The team's next home game is Wed., Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. vs Indy.Broadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv.NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Kansas City Mavericks (Calgary Flames/Stockton Heat)Last Time OutJack Billings, Cole Stallard, and Smith (3g, 2a) each finished with multi-goal games and Billy Constantinou tallied a career best 4 assists in a 9-1 road drubbing of Rapid City Sunday.Joe Widmar and Zach Remers also scored and Corbin Kaczperski earned his second Heartlanders win, saving 39.Iowa never trailed in the game, scoring four times in the first frame and thrice more in the second. The Rush scored their lone goal in the third, before the Heartlanders tallied the contest’s final two.Season SeriesThe Heartlanders got their first win in team history opening night against the Mavericks, 7-4, Oct. 21. Since then the two teams have alternated victories, Iowa winning the latest, 3-2. Iowa is outscoring the Mavs, 26-23, in seven games played this year.13 different Heartlanders have scored against Kansas City this year, led by Kris Bennett, who was just selected as the first all-star in Heartlanders history and is currently recalled to the Iowa Wild. Bennett, who skated nine games with the Stockton Heat last year, the Mavericks AHL affiliate, has scored against them seven times. Next up is Billings, Constantinou, and Ben Sokay, who have each tallied four goals against Kansas City.KC’s Darik Angeli leads their attack vs. Iowa; he has scored four times.Scouting the MavericksThe Mavericks are coming off a 2-1 loss against the Wichita Thunder Tuesday, which ended a three-game winning streak. In that loss, Marcus Crawford scored the lone Kansas City goal on the power play halfway through the third.They lead the league in penalty minutes with 686, almost 150 more than the next team.Nick Pastujov leads the Mavs in goals (13) and assists (21).On the Road AgainFollowing their clash with the Mavericks, the Heartlanders play five straight games on the road, starting Saturday and Sunday against the Indy Fuel. They start another three-in-three next Friday in Toledo, then go to Wheeling Saturday and Sunday.Upcoming Home GamesWednesday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Indy – College NightFriday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo - Boy Scouts NightSaturday, January 29th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo – Marvel ™ theme nightThe Heartlanders Season ticket memberships, group tickets, mini-plans, flex vouchers and single-game tickets are available for the Heartlanders inaugural season by calling 319-569-GOAL and visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets.