NHL labor talks to continue on Tuesday

NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL and the players' association used the last day of 2012 to get back to work on a labor deal that has so far been well out of reach.

The NHL is now considering considering a counter proposal from the union to the deal the league offered last week.  In meeting with reporters after Monday's session ended, Commissioner Gary Bettman offered no opinion about the counter proposal.  

The two sides will meet again on Tuesday.

The negotiations at the league's New York office marked the first time the NHL and the union had held a bargaining session in nearly three weeks, and the first time they did so without federal mediation since early December.

The window to reach a deal to save the season is rapidly closing. The belief is the NHL wants to start playing no later than Jan. 19.

The league and the union had informational discussions with staff members that lasted much of Saturday and ended Sunday. Those talks were spurred by an NHL contract proposal Thursday.