Andrei Vasilevskiy makes 29 saves for 36th NHL shutout, Lightning beat Devils 4-0

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves for his 36th career shutout to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New Jersey Devils 4-0 on Saturday night.

Vasilevskiy, who became the fastest goaltender in NHL to reach 300 wins when he beat Winnipeg 4-1 on Thursday night, had his second shutout of the season. He was at his best midway through the second period, robbing Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier after each was left alone in front of the net.

Nick Paul put Tampa Bay at 14:27 of the opening period when his long wrist shot went through a screen and past Jacob Markstrom. Darren Raddysh scored 39 seconds into the third period to double the lead, Victor Hedman added a power-play goal at 7:40 and Anthony Cirelli was credited with an empty-net goal with 12 seconds left when Devils defenseman Luke Hughes threw his stick to keep the puck out of the net.

Tampa Bay has won five in a row against New Jersey, including both games this season, and is 9-1-0 in its past 10 meetings with the Devils.

Markstrom finished with 22 saves for New Jersey, which came into the game off back-to-back road wins against the Florida Panthers.

Devils: New Jersey, which entered the game second in the NHL with 72 goals, was shut out for the third time this month.

The Lightning scored first for the ninth consecutive game. They are 5-3-1 during that span.

Cirelli won a faceoff cleanly to set up Raddysh’s third-period goal and give the Lightning some breathing room.

Vasilevskiy improved to 9-5-0 in his career against New Jersey, but it was the first time he’s shut out the Devils.

The Devils host Carolina on Thursday night. The Lightning visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, left, present goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy with a gold stick before an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, after Vasilevskiy won his 300th game earlier this week in Tampa, Fla. Looking on is his wife Ksenia and son Lukas. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) breaks out ahead of New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) works around New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New Jersey Devils left wing Kurtis MacDermid (23) checks Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) inito the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce (22) strips the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning center Conor Geekie (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) slips the puck away from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jake Paul believes he can fight for a championship belt within two years.

Mike Tyson might be finished in the ring after the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion's first sanctioned pro bout since 2005.

An event hyped like a prize fight turned into a glorified sparring session, the eight-round bout won by Paul in a lopsided unanimous decision at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys on Friday night.

There will continue to be questions for Paul over when he will fight a contender in his prime, as opposed to aging former champs, mixed martial artists or journeymen boxers.

The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer's answers have been consistent, and now he has a timeline.

“I think it could happen in the next 24 months,” Paul said. “I truly, truly believe in my skills and my ability and my power. And the cruiserweight division is seemingly open for the taking on that timeline.”

Tyson, whose last fight before retiring was a loss to Kevin McBride 19 years ago, said he was confident in taking on Paul because of an entertaining exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in front of no fans during the pandemic in 2020.

A shorter fight (instead of 10 or 12 rounds) with shorter rounds (two minutes instead of three) and heavier gloves fell far short of entertaining.

The International Boxing Hall of Famer came at Paul hard in the opening seconds, and briefly again to start the second round. Otherwise, he mostly let Paul come to him, and Paul said he thought Tyson was too fatigued to be a threat beyond the third round.

Still, Tyson wouldn't say immediately afterward it was his last fight after the officially recorded loss dropped his record to 50-7 with 44 knockouts.

“It depends on the situation,” Tyson said before suggesting a fight with Paul's older brother, Logan Paul, who was standing near him in the ring.

“I'll kill you, Mike,” Logan Paul shot back, using an expletive for emphasis.

But Tyson said he had gone in the ring “one last time” in a social media post Saturday that provided details about the health scare he faced that forced the postponement from the fight's original date this summer.

“I almost died in June,” Tyson wrote on X. “Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.”

There's no question the younger Paul will be back in the ring. The former social media influencer started boxing about 4 1/2 years ago and has always said he wants to be a championship fighter.

“He’s a very good fighter,” said Tyson, the undisputed heavyweight champ from 1987-90, after Paul won 80-72 on one judge's scorecard and 79-73 on the other two.

Paul still has plenty to prove, though. He is 11-1 with seven knockouts, the only loss to Tommy Fury, the less-accomplished brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

The former Disney Channel star has proven he can create hype for just about any fight.

The first live sports event on Netflix was viewed in 60 million households, the streaming company said Saturday. Netflix said further details on viewership would be available next week.

According to reports, Paul’s payday was $40 million, compared with $20 million for Tyson. Paul mentioned his number during a promotional event over the summer.

Organizers estimated the AT&T Stadium crowd at 72,000, and it appeared to be a legitimate number.

“There may never be another moment like this in boxing, but I believe we can find something,” Paul said. “And I think there are a few names out there that make sense, that the events will be just as big.”

In the days before his fight with Tyson, Paul mentioned super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, considered one of the best boxers in the world.

An opponent of that magnitude is probably at least several fights away for Paul, and it might not be long before age becomes an issue for the 34-year-old Alvarez.

Paul's camp will never question its ability to put on a show.

“Boxing is ebbs and flows, ups and downs, big events, small events, medium-size events,” said Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's promoter. “Our philosophy is it’s not about what is the decision that happens in the ring. It’s about the attitude that you have and the product you create and how you entertain the fans. And there’s no more entertaining of an athlete than Jake Paul.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jake Paul lands a left to Mike Tyson during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jake Paul, left, fights Mike Tyson during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jake Paul, left, and Mike Tyson embrace after their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jake Paul reacts after defeating Mike Tyson during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)