December 6, 2012

Pittsburgh Penguins Co-owner Ron Burkle (L) returns from a break in league negotiations in New York December 4, 2012. National Hockey League owners and players met face-to-face on Tuesday in an attempt to broker a deal to end their bitter dispute that threatens to wipe out the season. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

Less than 24 hours after the NHL and NHL Players' Association looked like they were on the road to settling their differences, the mood in New York City shifted and the season is still hanging in the balance.

While the league and the union are no longer totally opposed in the battle to get a collective bargaining agreement in place, a wide gulf remains and the players have ensured they'll fight to the bitter end.

Instead of waking up Friday with an agreement, the NHL and the NHLPA will just mark Day 83 of the lockout on the calendar and then figure out what they're going to do next to try to find a way around the impasse.