For Flyers and NHL, all is dark on opening night

The Flyers are supposed to open the 2012-13 season Thursday night by facing the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center.

Instead, the NHL has gone dark, and the "Negotiations to Nowhere" continue in New York City.

Representatives from the league and the players union met Wednesday. Once again, there was little progress to report.

The lockout has reached 26 days since the collective-bargaining agreement expired Sept. 15.

Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, estimated the league had lost $240 million with the cancellation of preseason games and the first two weeks of the regular season.

Daly said the league was waiting for the NHL Players' Association to make a counter offer on how to divide hockey-related revenue.

"We understand that they've been working on some concepts, some ideas . . . Just make the proposal," he told reporters.

In another development, an Alberta labor board denied the NHLPA's request and ruled that the league's lockout of players from the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames can continue.

Declaring the lockout illegal in the province would not help the league and players reach a settlement, the board said.

The NHLPA claimed that the Oilers and Flames are Alberta businesses and must abide by provincial rules.

Bullies appearing. To give fans their hockey fix, Xfinity Live, located down Pattison Avenue from the arena, will show HBO's Broad Street Bullies documentary Thursday at 7 p.m., and some of the players from that team will make appearances.