Huberdeau scores 2 as Flames beat Sharks 3-1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice and the Calgary Flames beat San Jose 3-1 on Saturday night, handing the Sharks their seventh straight loss.

Mikael Backlund also scored and Nazem Kadri had two assists for the Flames, and Dustin Wolf had 21 saves.

Macklin Celebrini got his 12th goal of the season for San Jose, and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 30 shots. The Sharks are 0-6-1 during their skid, and 1-9-1 over their last 11 games.

Calgary took a 2-1 lead at 6:50 of the second period on Backlund’s power-play goal. Backlund has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last five games.

Huberdeau had an empty-netter in the closing seconds, giving him a team-leading 15 goals.

Celebrini, who had the tying goal early in the second, leads all rookies in goals and is tied for the lead in points (27).

Flames: Calgary has won consecutive games for the first time in more than a month since winning its fourth straight on Nov. 23.

Sharks: Forward Carl Grundstrom left Saturday’s game in the first period with an unspecified injury and did not return after taking a hard hit from Flames defenseman Brayden Pachal.

Huberdeau’s early goal set the tone for Calgary. His team-leading 14th goal at 4:40 of the first period came on a deflection. It extended his goal streak to three games.

Calgary had six off days going into Saturday since a Dec. 21 6-4 win against Chicago, and the extra rest appeared to pay off against a fatigued Sharks team that was coming off a 6-3 loss to Vegas on Friday.

Flames play at Vegas on Sunday, and Sharks host Philadelphia on Tuesday.

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

San Jose Sharks center Nico Sturm (7) and Calgary Flames defenseman Brayden Pachal (94) get in a fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf stands on the ice during a break in play against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

A general view as the San Jose Sharks play the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Calgary Flames center Connor Zary (47) controls the puck against San Jose Sharks right wing Barclay Goodrow (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea (53) and Calgary Flames center Blake Coleman (20) face off during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

The Calgary Flames celebrate their win over the San Jose Sharks after an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Jose Sharks center Klim Kostin (10) controls the puck against Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley (44) and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) celebrates his goal with center Martin Pospisil (76) against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Calgary Flames center Jonathan Huberdeau (10) celebrates after his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Spanish league said Tuesday that Barcelona has failed to meet Financial Fair Play rules in the latest blow to the club’s hopes of keeping playmaker Dani Olmo.

The league said Barcelona “did not present any alternative” on adhering to the regulations, which was required for the club to “register any player beginning on Jan. 2.”

Barcelona needed to have another financial lever approved by the league in order to register Olmo after a judge ruled against the club on Monday in the second consecutive court setback ahead of the end-of-year deadline.

Without the court’s backing or the league's approval, Olmo's contract can't be registered beyond the end of 2024. The Spain international moved from Leipzig to Barcelona in August.

Barcelona had reportedly reached a deal to sell VIP seats at the renovated Camp Nou stadium for 100 million euros ($104 million). That would reportedly be enough for the club to add Olmo and forward Pau Víctor to the squad.

Spanish media said Barcelona was still hopeful of reaching a deal with the league to have Olmo registered even if it misses the end-of-year deadline.

Each Spanish league club has a salary cap which is calculated based on a series of factors, including revenues, costs and debts. It is proportional to roughly 70% of a club’s revenues.

Barcelona has endured difficulties registering some players recently because of its financial struggles. It has resorted to a series of financial levers in recent years, including the sale of future television rights. The club's financial struggles led to the departure of Lionel Messi in 2021.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Dani Olmo, controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)