WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal mediators are entering the stalled NHL labor talks, with the season’s first 2½ months already lost because of the lockout.

George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said the parties had agreed to use the agency. He assigned three mediators to assist negotiations — deputy director Scot Beckenbaugh, director of mediation services John Sweeney and Commissioner Guy Serota, though he was removed later in the day because of a Twitter account that may have been tampered with.

The sides are to meet separately with the mediators Wednesday.