NHL, Union Have Contact, No Talks Scheduled

NEW YORK (AP) - With a lockout drawing ever closer, the NHL and its players' union are in touch with each other after a day of internal meetings.

But no new negotiating sessions are scheduled one day before Commissioner Gary Bettman has said he will lock out the players. This would be the NHL's fourth work stoppage since 1992.

On Thursday night, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke to special counsel Steve Fehr, the brother of union executive director Donald Fehr. They did not, however, discuss a possible return to the bargaining table Friday.

The collective bargaining agreement expires at midnight EDT on Saturday. Bettman has said the season won't start without a new deal. Training camps are to open Sept. 21 and the season is to begin Oct. 11.