NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL and the players' association met with federal mediators, not with each other, in the latest round of fruitless negotiations.

The sides arrived at the same location Wednesday in suburban New Jersey, but never got into a room together. No apparent progress was made, and nothing appears to have been resolved.

``There is no conclusion to this round of the process right now,'' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on the 88th day of the league's lockout.

The players' association has yet to comment on Wednesday's discussions because it is still meeting.

This would have been the first negotiating session between the sides since talks broke down last Thursday. All games through Dec. 30 have been canceled, or about 43 percent of the season.