The Monsters dropped the first game of a two-game weekend set at Rochester, 3-1, on Jan. 5.
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.
