Wyatt Johnston scores 2, Roope Hintz has goal and assist as Stars beat Sharks 5-3

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 5–3 on Thursday night.

Roope Hintz had a goal and an assist, and Justin Hryckowian and Jamie Benn also scored for Dallas. Esa Lindell and Mikko Rantanen each had two assists, and Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots.

Colin Graf had two goals, and Shakir Mukhamadullin also scored for the Sharks, who snapped a three-game win streak. Macklin Celebrini had two assists and Alex Nedeljkovic finished with 25 saves.

Hintz opened the scoring for Dallas with 7:35 left in the first period for his 10th goal of the season, and Johnston made it 2-0 with 2:22 remaining.

Mukhamadullin put the Sharks on the board at 1:43 of the second period with his second goal of the year.

Johnston answered at 8:40 with his second of the game and 19th of the season, moving him one behind Jason Robertson for the team lead. Rantanen got his second assist of the night and 32nd of the season on the play.

Graf cut the deficit again with 3:16 remining in the middle period, but Dallas responded quickly as Hryckowian made it 4-2 with 43 seconds left.

Graf completed his two-goal night at 4:32 of the third period, with Celebrini getting his 35th assist.

Benn sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:18 to go.

Stars: At Anaheim on Friday.

Sharks: Host Seattle on Saturday.

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

San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, left, is called for a penalty against Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) scores a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, standing, reacts behind players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian, middle, is congratulated by defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) and center Oskar Bäck (10) after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

TORONTO (AP) — Canada and the U.S. will launch formal discussions to review their free trade agreement in mid-January, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

The prime minister confirmed to provincial leaders that Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S-Canada trade relations, “will meet with U.S. counterparts in mid-January to launch formal discussions," Carney’s office said in a statement late Thursday.

The United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA, is up for review in 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated the deal in his first term and included a clause to possibly renegotiate the deal in 2026.

Carney met with the leaders of Canada’s provinces on Thursday to give them an update on trade talks with the U.S.

Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the country's southern neighbor. But most exports to the U.S. are currently exempted by USMCA.

Trump cut off trade talks to reduce tariffs on certain sectors with Carney in October after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the U.S. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over Trump’s insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Carney said earlier Thursday that Canada and the U.S. were close to an agreement at the time on sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas, including steel and aluminum. Tariffs are taking a toll on certain sectors of Canada's economy, particularly aluminum, steel, auto and lumber.

Carney also said trade irritants flagged this week by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are elements of a “much bigger discussion” about continental trade. Greer said a coming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal will hinge on resolving U.S. concerns about Canadian policies on dairy products, alcohol and digital services.

Carney and the provincial premiers agreed to meet in person in Ottawa early in the new year.

Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports.

Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.

Carney said U.S. access to Canada’s critical ministers is not a certainty.

“It’s a potential opportunity for the United States, but it’s not an assured opportunity for the United States. It’s part of a bigger discussion in terms of our trading relationship, because we have other partners around the world, in Europe for example, who are very interested in participating,” Carney said earlier Thursday.

FILE - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney pumps his fist as he arrives to deliver remarks at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File)