A Light at the End of the NHL Tunnel?

The media is optimistic. Whether that means anything remains to be seen.

What we know for sure is that the NHL and NHL Players' Association met four times this week, including a couple of very long meetings on Thursday and Friday, and made civil statements when it was over.

''We had two long days of meetings in which the parties discussed and made progress on some of the key issues pertaining to a new economic system,'' said NHL VP Bill Daly.

''While we made progress in some areas there remain many issues to be addressed,'' declared Ted Saskin of the Players' Association.

All of which suggests that the inevitable end to the lockout is starting to look and sound inevitable. Stay tuned.