NHL lockout: Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Penguins working on ending stalemate

Nobody can claim that the Pittsburgh Penguins organization isn't trying to end the lockout.

After months of stalemates, it's been widely reported that the NHL and NHLPA finally made some progress on Tuesday during a long meeting in New York, with Penguins owner Ron Burkle and superstar Sidney Crosby playing key roles.Tuesday's proceedings were without commissioner Gary Bettman and union chief Donald Fehr.

Now, Mario Lemieux is showing up to the Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday, according to triblive.com.

The NHL's season is certainly of the brink of of being lost if the two sides can't come together rather quickly. The games have already been canceled through Dec. 14, adding urgency to the situation.

Reports have it that Lemieux, Crosby and Burkle have already been talking behind closed doors, trying to figure out ways to bring the two sides closer on a new CBA.

According to the Tribune-Review, Crosby is a big fan of Burkle, who has been one of the more well-thought of owners in the league for a while.

"Ron is a great owner. He wants everything to be first class, and he cares about everyone in the organization. He only wants what’s best for the team."