from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

With considerable push from both owners and players behind the scenes, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association are back at it Wednesday.

The moderates on each side were working the phones all weekend long, sources told ESPN.com, pushing like crazy for both sides to resume talks, back-channelling between owners, agents and players stressing the need to get right back at it in an effort to once and for all end a lockout that should have never lasted this long.

And even then, there’s still no guarantee it’s going to work, although I will maintain that both sides are not that far apart on a deal.

Just who would be in the room was going to be finalized Tuesday by the NHL and NHLPA, with sources indicating the league was leaning towards no owners this time, while the union may still invite players. But sources said federal mediators will be involved again.

Among those working behind the scenes to try and get things back on track has been New York Rangers owner James Dolan and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle, sources said.

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