Gary Bettman, Donald Fehr meet for NHL labor talks

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Assn. Executive Director Donald Fehr talked privately in New York on Saturday for the second straight day but the lockout imposed by the league on Sept. 15 continued with no signs of imminent resolution.

Fehr would not specify what he and Bettman had talked about. “In general, we’re trying to discuss how do we find a way to make an agreement, how do we bridge the gap on the major issues that are between us,� Fehr told reporters in New York. He said he and Bettman planned to talk again on Sunday.

In the meantime, negotiators for both sides sparred over how to codify the current interpretations of what constitutes hockey-related revenues. The division of those revenues is central to the dispute that has delayed the opening of training camps and wiped out the exhibition schedule.

To start the season as scheduled on Oct. 11 a new labor deal would have to be forged this week, and that appears unlikely. The players’ union opposes salary rollbacks or heavy escrow payments and the NHL appears intent on bringing players’ share of hockey-related revenues down from last season’s 57% to below 50%.

The sides made some progress Friday on secondary issues such as drug testing and playing conditions but they remain apart on the major economic issue and on the league’s proposal to extend entry-level contracts beyond three years, eliminate salary arbitration and postpone free agency until players have 10 seasons’ experience.

— Helene Elliott

ETC.

Logano wins Nationwide race

Joey Logano dominated on the concrete to win the Nationwide Series race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Logano raced to his series-leading victory of the season, winning for the 16th time in NASCAR’s second-tier circuit.

Paul Menard was second, followed by Michael Annett, points leader Elliott Sadler and Kyle Busch.

Logano swept the Dover races this season.

::

The New York Giants will be without wide receiver Hakeem Nicks for Sunday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Nicks has a knee injury. ... Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (concussion) and tight end Richard Gordon (hamstring) will miss Sunday’s game for the Oakland Raiders in Denver with injuries. ... The San Diego Chargers have signed kicker Nick Novak to replace Nate Kaeding for Sunday’s game at Kansas City. To make room for Novak on the roster, the Chargers released offensive lineman Reggie Wells. Kaeding hurt his groin in practice Friday. ... The Denver Broncos placed second-year safety Quinton Carter on injured reserve after he hurt his surgically repaired left knee last weekend. The Broncos promoted rookie safety Duke Ihenacho from their practice squad to take his place, and they also promoted second-year linebacker Mike Mohamed to the active roster for Sunday’s game against Oakland.

::

Russia’s Nadia Petrova beat defending champion Agnieska Radwanska, 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, to win the Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo.

::

Gilles Simon upset top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic, 6-4, 6-4, to set up an all-French final against Richard Gasquet at the Thailand Open in Bangkok. Gasquet rallied from a set and two breaks down to beat Jarkko Nieminen, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

::

Second-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina outlasted Kei Nishikori of Japan, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4), to reach the final of the Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur. He will face Julien Benneteau of France, who defeated top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, 6-4, 6-1.