NHL labor talks stretch into late hours

Groups of NHL owners and players met into the early hours Thursday amid hopes the sides were nearing an agreement that could salvage the hockey season. Commissioner Gary Bettman and union chief Don Fehr left the negotiations to the owners and players, although both were in the building while talks continued. After an afternoon meeting Wednesday, Bettman briefed members of the NHL's board of governors and then issued a quick statement to writers and broadcasters. "We are pleased with the process that is ongoing and out of respect for that process I don't have anything else to say and I'm not going to take any questions," Bettman said. After a 2-hour break, the talks began again and continued past midnight. The discussions among the owners and players came one week after two days of mediated talks featuring Bettman and Fehr failed to produce any results. Among the owners present for this week's talks have been Pittsburgh's Ron Burkle, Toronto's Larry Tanenbaum and Boston's Jeremy Jacobs. The players involved have included Sidney Crosby, Shane Doan, Martin St. Louis and Manny Malhotra. NHL owners locked out the players Sept. 16 after no new collective bargaining agreement could be reached. Games through Dec. 14 have been canceled, as has the Winter Classic and the 2013 All-Star Game.