The sides returned to the bargaining table after more than two weeks apart, and some progress was made in about two hours of discussions during a morning session.

‘‘You would absolutely hope that things progress and kind of catch fire, but right now we’re just going to take it one step at a time and try to come to an agreement on as many issues as possible,’’ said former player Mathieu Schneider, now an NHLPA special assistant to the executive director. ‘‘We’re taking baby steps right now.’’

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman took part in Friday morning’s talks, but union head Donald Fehr wasn’t present. He joined the discussions during the afternoon.

The sides also were expected to meet over the weekend.

‘‘It says that both sides are committed to getting back to the table and working,’’ Schneider said.

Schneider added that there were agreements on more rigorous drug testing, expanding it to parts of the year during which testing is not currently done.

Neither side sees the use of performance-enhancing drugs as a problem in the NHL.

‘‘We’re in agreement that it’s not an issue in our sport,’’ Schneider said.

Other topics on tap through the weekend are various health and safety issues, time players spend at training facilities, and other non-economic topics.

Tavares to Bern