Iowa Heartlanders season ends with 4-1 loss in Game 7 at Fort Wayne

CEDAR RAPIDS - It was a season of firsts for the Iowa Heartlanders.

Their first ECHL playoff berth. Their first ECHL playoff win.

The first ECHL playoff series win will have to wait. The Fort Wayne Komets scored three times in the second period and went on to beat Iowa, 4-1, in the winner-take-all Game 7 of this first-round series Tuesday night, also known as a Central Division semifinal playoff series.

However you want to phrase it, the series is over, as is the season for the Heartlanders. They went 36-25-7-4 for 83 standings points in the regular season for third place in the Central, securing one of four playoff spots in the division.

They pushed the more talented Komets to the brink with a home double-overtime Game 5 win last week, 3-2, followed by a Game 6 win at home, 5-2. But they were unable to win one of two games once the series shifted back to Indiana, falling Sunday, 5-2.

“It's the story of our team," Fort Wayne Coach Jesse Kallechy told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. "We were near the top of the league in third-period comebacks. It's just been the story of our year. ... I will say, I got a lot of appreciation for the guys. They always find a way and I think that's the strength of our group."

For the sixth time in this series, the Heartlanders did get the first goal Monday night, that one coming from Ryan Miotto just over five minutes in. But that was it, as rookie goalie Nathan Day, who was signed by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers recently and shipped to Fort Wayne, was outstanding, making 18 saves in the third period.

Blake Murray converted an odd-man rush with a wrist-shot goal from the circle to get the Komets on the board at 1:25 of the second period. Fort Wayne went ahead for good midway through the period on a Jack Swetlikoff goal.

Then it became 3-1 on an Ethan Keppen goal about three minutes later. Anthony Petruzzelli scored into an empty net in the final minute, after Iowa pulled goaltender William Rousseau for an extra attacker.

“It obviously stings right now, but I am sure that in the next couple of days, we will be able to reflect on the season we had and the strides we made as a team and organization,” said Hearlanders Coach Derek Damon. “I am proud to be an Iowa Heartlander. I am proud to of been able to work with these men every day.”

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