Then both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table sometime early afternoon ET.

The reason I say expected because you never know if a wrench can be tossed into the equation, thus slowing or stopping the negotiation process.

from Katie Strang of ESPN New York,

For the second straight day, the NHL and NHLPA met late into the evening while trying to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. It remains unclear exactly how much common ground was forged, although the NHLPA appears to be growing increasingly wary of the current players/owners-only meetings.

Multiple sources told ESPNNewYork.com that there is some concern among the union's membership that the format may be an attempt to divide the players and isolate the constituency from its leadership.

Additionally, one source informed ESPNNewYork.com that the union believes that, going forward, there should be no restrictions as to who is in the room, thus allowing each side can bring back whomever it wants.

continue for a recap of Wednesday's CBA talks...