Hockey

With time running out on NHL contract negotiations and a Monday strike looming, John McMullen, owner of the New Jersey Devils, leveled a blast at the players after a day of negotiations.

“The biggest mistake the owners could make right now would be to concede,” McMullen told the New York Times. “The owners have nothing to say whether they strike or not. I have to say that they probably will.

“But see, I don’t give them (players) too much credit for too much intelligence. . . . I think hockey’s mistake was trusting them. We should have never opened the season without an agreement.

Union director Bob Goodenow said that negotiations have not made any significant progress.