With negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association stalled again, the National Hockey League canceled another two weeks worth of games Monday.
All contests scheduled through Dec. 30 now have been wiped out, and arenas are free to schedule replacement events, if possible. At this point, 42.8 percent of the scheduled contests have been lost.
For the Nashville Predators, that meant four home games including one against division rival Detroit (Dec. 15) and one against the Philadelphia Flyers, which tried to sign Nashville captain Shea Weber during the offseason, were eliminated.
Previously, the league had canceled games through Dec. 14. Also wiped out were the NHL Winter Classic, the annual outdoor contest, which was scheduled for Ann Arbor, Mich., this season, and the NHL All-Star Game, scheduled for Columbus, Ohio.
The sides met for several days last week but talks broke off Thursday without a resolution. No further talks are scheduled at this time.
NHL owners locked out players upon expiration of the last collective bargaining agreement on Sept. 15.