NHL, players don't face off to settle lockout Both sides speak through mediator over 12-hour period By BRUCE GARRIOCH, QMI Agency

Collective bargaining talks have halted with a week before the NHL could likely pull the plug on the 2012-13 season. (Brian Snyder/Reuters/Files) Lockout over! NHL, players reach tentative deal on CBA NHL survey: what's your opinion on end of lockout? Gary Bettman should be fired after NHL lockout NHL teams gearing up for season NHL, players 'inching closer' together but much work remains to end lockout NHL lockout effects

NEW YORK - The NHL and NHL Players’ Association did plenty of talking Friday, just not face-to-face.

The busiest guy in Manhattan was federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh. He made the four block trip from the NHL’s headquarters on Sixth Avenue to the union’s hotel several times in a period lasting over 12 hours to try to help broker an end to the lockout.

No, there weren’t any formal bargaining sessions and there isn’t any hope for an NHL season yet, but when talks wrapped up at 10:50 p.m. EST there was a belief both sides had told Beckenbaugh they’re willing to bend to get a deal.