Monsters battle to 2-1 victory over Senators

Photo by Brooke Arrington

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Monsters beat the Belleville Senators 2-1 on Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in front of 13,096 fans and 16,112 stuffed animals. With the win, the Monsters are now 16-7-1-0 and are currently in first place in the AHL’s North Division standings.

Following a scoreless opening frame, Justin Pearson recorded his first professional goal and sent stuffed animals flying at 2:23 off feeds from James Malatesta and Jake Gaudet sending Cleveland to the final intermission ahead 1-0. The Monsters doubled the lead after Mikael Pyyhtia scored an empty-net goal with an assist from Gaudet at 18:04 of the third period. Belleville’s Angus Crookshank notched a tally at 19:05, but Cleveland hung on for a 2-1 win.

Cleveland’s Jet Greaves made 39 saves for the win while Belleville’s Kevin Mandolese stopped 25 shots in defeat.

The Monsters travel to visit the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, December 20, at 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena. Follow the games with full coverage on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 ‘The Gambler’, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.

Stay up to date on all Monsters news with the Monsters Mobile App presented by University Hospitals available to download at the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Be sure to follow the Monsters on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Scoring:

		1st		2nd		3rd		OT		SO		Final
CLE		0		1		1		–		–		2
BEL		0		0		1		–		–		1

 

Shots/Special Teams:

		Shots		PP		PK		PIM
CLE		27		0/2		2/2		6 min / 3 inf
BEL		40		0/2		2/2		6 min / 3 inf

 

Goaltenders:

		Goaltender		Outcome		Saves		GA		Record
CLE		Greaves		W		39		1		11-3-0
BEL		Mandolese		L		25		1		2-3-1

Cleveland Record: 16-7-1-0, 1st North Division

Belleville Record: 10-10-2-2, 5th North Division

Cleveland Monsters Official Press Release