After Syracuse opened the scoring with a goal just over 5 minutes into the game, Cleveland’s Mikael Pyyhtia tied it at 1-1 with 11:38 remaining in the first period. He was assisted by Trey Fix-Wolansky and Hunter McKown.

Alex Whelan gave the Monsters a 2-1 lead 8:48 into the second period, assisted by Justin Pearson.

In the shootout, the teams were tied at 2-2 when the Monsters’ Cameron Butler was denied and Syracuse’s Waltteri Merelä converted in the fourth round for the difference-maker.

Cleveland has lost three of its past four and fell to 23-10-1-1. The Monsters will play their first home game in 13 days when Lehigh Valley visits Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the first of two straight nights beginning Jan. 19.

Fix-Wolansky’s goal, his second of the game and 12th of the winter, was assisted by Jake Christiansen.

Justin Pearson logged a goal and a pair of helpers for Cleveland, and Owen Sillinger also had two assists.

The Monsters are off until Jan. 12, when they will travel to Utica to take on the Comets.

Cleveland (22-9-1-0) outshot the Americans, 34-26, but could only muster a power-play goal by Owen Sillinger in the second period. The Monsters were 1-for-6 on power plays.

It was Sillinger’s sixth goal of the season. Carson Meyer and Trey Fix-Wolansky assisted.

The Americans scored the first goal of the game 5 minutes, 28 seconds into the first period. They scored twice in just over a minute in the second period for the final margin.

Jet Greaves made 23 saves in the Monsters’ net.

The teams meet again Jan. 6 in Rochester.

Carson Meyer scored the Monsters’ first goal midway through the second period to tie the game at 1-1. It was his 14th of the season.

Gaudet’s tally put Cleveland ahead, and Greaves kept the Marlies off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

The Monsters (22-8-1-0) have won eight of their past nine. They play their next two games at Rochester, beginning Jan 5.

The Griffins dominated, 5-1, ending the Monsters’ seven-game winning streak.

The Griffins scored the first five goals of the game. They kept the Monsters off the scoreboard until 7:15 remaining in the third period, when Mikael Pyyhtia scored on a power play.

Trey Fix-Wolansky and Marcus Bjork assisted on Pyyhtia’s goal. Fix-Wolansky has 19 assists for the season and 98 in his Cleveland career, tying the franchise record.

Pavel Cajan made 33 saves for Cleveland (21-8-1-0).

The Monsters are off until Jan.3, when they visit Toronto.

Sillinger was assisted by Mikael Pyyhtia and Marcus Bjork. Sillinger had two goals for the game and now has five for the season.

Mikael Pyyhtia and Billy Sweezey also tallied for Cleveland (21-7-1-0). Sweezey also had an assist. Jet Greaves saved 30 shots in 65 minutes.

The Monsters remain on the road to face longtime rival Grand Rapids at 6 p.m., Dec. 31.

All-Star coach

Monsters second-year coach Trent Vogelhuber will coach the North Division at the AHL All-Star Classic on Feb. 4-5 in San Jose. Vogelhuber has Cleveland in first place in the division and is 53-39-6-2 as head coach. Previously, he was a Monsters assistant from 2018-22.

Roman Ahcan and Jake Gaudet lit the lamp in the second period for a 2-1 Cleveland lead. Kyle Criscuolo answered for Utica at 18:17 to make it a 2-2 game after two.

Meyer’s tally, assisted by Trey Fix-Wolansky and Marcus Bjork, came on the power play and was his 13th goal of the season.

The Monsters are off through Christmas until Dec. 27, when they’ll host Toronto at 7 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Cleveland won its fourth in a row and improved to 18-7-1-0.

Fix-Wolansky scored two goals and has nine for the season. Jake Gaudet and Alex Whelan also tallied for Cleveland. Both scored their first of the season.

Greaves stopped 16 shots.

The Monsters remain in New York to face Utica on Dec. 23.

Cleveland found itself down, 3-2, 55 seconds into the third after a goal by Rochester’s Lukas Rousek. But Carson Meyer lit the lamp at 5:57, his 12th goal of the year, tied it at 3 before the late tallies.

Jake Christiansen logged a goal and three helpers for the Monsters, who will remain in New York and will head to Syracuse to take on the Crunch at 7 p.m. Dec. 22.

Dec. 16 was the annual Teddy Bear Toss night for the Monsters at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It is always a highlight of the season, but not the only highlight. The Jan. 6 game with Rochester is University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Night. The Monsters players will wear special “I skate for (a patient’s name)” patches on the front of their jerseys that night after having visited patients in the hospital.

The first period Dec. 16 between the Monsters and Belleville Senators was scoreless thanks to brilliant play by both goalies — especially Jet Greaves of the Monsters, who was still on fire after minding the net in the 5-1 home win over the Senators on Dec. 14. Fans were restless, eager to toss their stuffed animals onto the ice after the first Monsters goal, knowing the colorful, fluffy animals will become Christmas gifts to needy children in the Cleveland area.

Justin Pearson scored his first goal of the season for @monstershockey at 17:37 of the second period, and the fans responded on Teddy Bear Toss night. #Monsters 1, Senators 0. pic.twitter.com/J3RwtSVS2M

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) December 16, 2023

Fans did not have to wait long once the second period began. James Malatesta skated down the right side of the ice toward the Belleville net. He snapped a pass ahead to left wing Justin Pearson bearing down on the left post and then Pearson beat Kevin Mandolese glove side at the 17:37 mark for a 1-0 Monsters lead. The goal sparked a 2-1 victory. The Monsters lead the AHL North at 16-7-1-0.

On cue, the crowd of 13,096 began tossing the stuffed animals onto the ice. Many fans arrived at the FieldHouse with more than one animal, because the final count showed 16,112 were collected — a record number for the event.

The #Monsters congratulate goalie Jet Greaves then salute the crowd of 13,096 after beating the Senators 2-1 Friday night. pic.twitter.com/7k10cYIsVr

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) December 16, 2023

The goal by Pearson wasn’t only the first of the game. It was the first pro goal for the 25-year-old rookie from Nashua, New Hampshire.

“It was a whirlwind of emotions,” Pearson said. “Getting the puck into the back of the net felt great, then having all the teddy bears come down was something special and then celebrating with all my teammates, so it was a great moment.”

Pearson said he plans to have the puck framed to commemorate his first goal.

The score remained 1-0 until Mikael Pyyhtia scored an empty net goal with 1:56 remaining. Angus Crookshank spoiled the shutout with a sixth-attacker goal for Senators with 55 seconds left. The Monsters kept the visitors at bay until the final horn sounded.

Greaves stopped 39 of 40 shots. He made 33 saves on 34 shots in the Dec. 14 game.

THE SCORE

Monsters 2, Senators 1