The NHL and the players' association are returning to the bargaining table Tuesday, hoping momentum generated over the weekend can lead to a long-awaited labour deal.

The sides held negotiations Saturday, the first since Oct. 18, in an undisclosed location and made enough progress to want to talk again just days later. They will get back together Tuesday in New York.

According to reports, there will be no media briefing following tomorrow's session and that will be the norm until they fell the public needs to know.

Perhaps they learned from the last time when both sides tried to use the media to help deliver their message to the other side.

It didn't work.

The lockout entered its 51st day Monday. So far, 327 games -including the outdoor Winter Classic - have been called off, and the NHL says a full season won't be played.