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

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Negotiations are scheduled for Monday afternoon at the league's New York office. This marks the first time the NHL and the union will be bargaining in nearly three weeks, and the first time they will do 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.