Next Exit Observations

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

They See Me Rollin' - Mercedes Benz Edition

(SpeedHunters.com)

NHL Power Rankings: Capitals clinging to top spot - SI.com

2. Anaheim Ducks

record: 38-21-9
Turns out all the Ducks needed was a little home cooking. After turning in a pair of soft performances in Colorado and St. Louis, Anaheim righted the ship with a 7–1 thrashing of the Devils. The win made it 10 straight with at least a point at home (9-0-1), the longest active streak in the NHL.

5. Los Angeles Kings

record: 41-22-5
Full marks to the Kings, who responded to a late challenge from the Ducks with an 8-2-1 streak of their own. They've tightened up their D, allowing just 17 regulation goals over that stretch. Is it too early to call them the favorites to advance out of the West?

8. San Jose Sharks

record: 38-24-6
A standing O for Jumbo Joe. With a helper in San Jose's 5–2 thumping of the Caps on Saturday, Thornton became just the 16th player in NHL history to record more than 10 seasons with at least 50 assists. The dead-lock Hall of Famer is third in apples this season, trailing only Erik Karlsson and Patrick Kane.

Complete list (SI.com)

NHL Goalies Should Be Downsized

GMs propose changes to goaltender equipment

Chest protectors, pants among targets to increase scoring

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Smaller, more uniform goaltending equipment is likely coming for the 2016-17 NHL season, a move general managers believe will even the playing field among goaltenders and, perhaps, provide the opportunity for more scoring.

Senior director of hockey operations Kay Whitmore, who is in charge of goaltending-related issues for the NHL, said Tuesday at the second day of the general managers meetings that the League, in conjunction with the NHL Players' Association and several NHL goalies, have come up with prototypes for equipment he expects to be ready by June.

For the proposed changes to be implemented next season, approval from the competition committee and the Board of Governors is required.

(NHL.com)

Did You Know - German Car VIN's Edition

Score One For Capitalism: Why German Car VINs Start With "W"

If you own a German-made car, go check out the VIN and you’ll notice it starts with ‘W.’

That’s the country code for Germany. Or rather, it was the country code for West Germany and it has stuck around through reunification.

(Jalopnik.com)