Predators vs Flames

	vs
PREDATORS		FLAMES
6-2		6-0

The Aesthetics
It's interesting to see the stronger logos going up against each other in this tournament. The tough part is for me in figuring out which deserves points. Here, the Predators logo outweighs by a very slight margin the Flames for the use of color and sleek design. The Flames have a great logo but I feel like it could be updated somewhat. The Flames on the left side seem unbalanced.
Predators

The Nickname
Funny thing about Flames. They burn everything, even Predators.
Flames

The Analysis
What I do like about the Flames logo is the prominent use of the "C" for Calgary. The Predators logo doesn't really have any elements that represent Music City. While their colors are great and their design is spectacular, it's really the Flames that deserve this point.
Flames

WINNER

2-1

 

Predators vs Blues

	vs
PREDATORS		BLUES
5-2		4-3

The Aesthetics
Both teams are halfway through the tournament and are currently at the top of their division. Let's see how they fare one-on-one. For one thing, their colors are similar and very cool. The Predators logo deals a lot in minute detail while the Blues logo mostly avoids it. Still, its the Predators who get this point for colors and overall sleekness.
Predators

The Nickname
What's with animals eating people today. We have a Predator dining on a Blues singer now.
Predators

The Analysis
Predators and Blues are both generic names. Same as Flyers or Wild or Canadiens. You're not really sure what the logo should look like but that means a lot of different things can work. Here, both logos make sense with the name (so, that's good) but its the Predators that goes a step further and creates an icon. (A trumpet or some type of musical instrument could've gotten the job done for the Blues.) And that's why this point goes to them.
Predators

WINNER

3-0

 

Blackhawks vs Coyotes

	vs
BLACKHAWKS		COYOTES
2-4		2-2

The Aesthetics
Looking at these two logos side-by-side, the Coyotes logo is much cleaner. There's a lot going on in the Blackhawks logo, half of which I don't understand. There also isn't a clearly defined color scheme in this logo. There's no question what the Coyotes colors are. An easy point.
Coyotes

The Nickname
Coyotes beware when Chief Blackhawk is wielding a tomahawk.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
What I like about both logos is their ability to just be symbols of their teams. Though I suppose a lay person might thing Indians when they see the Blackhawks logo, the designers got a tough assignment with the name itself. I really hope one day the Blackhawks update their logo, though. Even if its just something they where on their shoulder. I don't dislike the Indian head, but would prefer something cleaner and more defined the color category. I say all this so that you know this isn't a throwaway point. They could've gotten it. However, the Coyotes have already done those things. Remember the team's original logo the year they moved to Phoenix? They've come a long way. And the colors say desert and that's what I mean by representation of the home town.
Coyotes

WINNER

2-1

 

Blues vs Sharks

	vs
BLUES		SHARKS
4-2		3-4

The Aesthetics
Both logos have cool, unique colors but its the Blues that makes better use of it. That paired with the Sharks logo's use of a hockey stick will give the Blues this point.
Blues

The Nickname
Here's another one of those eternal questions. Why would a Blues singer ever have to face a Shark? I guess it doesn't matter, just that the shark gets dinner.
Sharks

The Analysis
Blues as a team name doesn't leave you with a whole lot of logo options, so this works. I was a fan of the trumpets though, which the team wore as a shoulder patch in the late '90s. Can't have everything, though. The Sharks logo is easy — it's a shark — the creativity comes with the triangle as a basic shape and the broken hockey stick. I don't love hockey sticks in logos but this sort of makes sense for the Sharks. Still, we have a pair of solid logos which makes this a difficult match to determine. But we'll give it to the Sharks for that fierce logo among other things.
Sharks

WINNER

2-1

 

Blue Jackets vs Ducks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		DUCKS
3-1		0-5

The Aesthetics
Is there really a question here? Because it seems rather obvious to me.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
Bayonet versus beak. While at war the Blue Jacket would perhaps need to go hunt for food. A Duck would make an easy meal.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
I keep wishing the Ducks announce a change to their logo during this tournament. Just simply going to the webbed "D" would would for me. Until then, though, they'll likely continue to take a beating in this competition. Love the colors, hate the wordmark. The Blue Jackets logo, on the other hand, couldn't be more appropriate.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

3-0

 

Red Wings vs Blackhawks

	vs
RED WINGS		BLACKHAWKS
1-4		1-4

The Aesthetics
That is an awful lot of red up there. Both logos have a lot of unnecessary detail that stems back from the Dark Ages. Yes, these are both Original Six clubs but there still should be logo accountability to some extent. The other five should borrow a page from the Bruins book and liven things up a little. (Yes, even the Canadiens could use some sprucing.) The Blackhawks logo takes the point because it doesn't blend into the background.
Blackhawks

The Nickname
Chief Black Hawk would've possibly had a bow an arrow. And if he was a good shot, he could take out a bird, even one of the Red-Winged variety. Damn, that was a stretch.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
This point is all Wings. While I commend both logos on decent portrayal of the team name — with a red wing and an Indian — it's the Red Wings logo that goes the extra mile (pun) with the wheel attached to the wing. The wheel, of course, symbolizes Detroit's history as the Motor City. So they won't go away empty-handed here.
Red Wings

WINNER

2-1

 

Blue Jackets vs Canucks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		CANUCKS
2-1		2-1

The Aesthetics
The Canucks have a unique color scheme and that gives them a leg up. Red, white and blue tends to be overused. I was never a fan of the electric green in the old Blue Jackets logo and I know these colors fit well, but still. Purely on looks, which logo would I rather be wearing?
Canucks

The Nickname
Blue Jackets carry bayonets and Canucks are, what, woodsman? So axes, then. Jackets win in a "war."
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
This is what you call a resounding point win. Look at these two logos and what they're meant to represent. A silver star draped in the Ohio flag for a team from Columbus named for the Union soldiers could be a more fitting logo. What's a Canuck? Well it sure isn't an orca whale or a Native American tribe.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

2-1

 

Stars vs Predators

	vs
STARS		PREDATORS
1-0		4-2

The Aesthetics
The Stars logo breaks a cardinal rule by spelling out the entire name. They all but forfeit the point just for that. But the Predators logo is just too cool to be beaten despite being a little heavy on the detail.
Predators

The Nickname
A Stars is a giant, all-consuming ball of fire, and if one fell to earth, not even a Predator would survive.
Stars

The Analysis
Both teams were given appropriate names, the Stars being a good adaptation of North Stars for the Lonestar state. The saber-toothed tiger works for Nashville since, if you weren't aware, the fossilized bones of one was found during construction of the team's arena. So it's a tough decision. Ultimately though, the Predators logo takes this point for its slick and scary design. (I wouldn't want to come face-to-face with that animal, extinct or otherwise.)
Predators

WINNER

2-1

 

Blue Jackets vs Sharks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		SHARKS
1-1		3-1

The Aesthetics
We've got a couple strong Western Conference logos here. Both pay attention to detail and have great colors but the Blue Jackets logo makes better use of it. Both logos have many pointy edges but ultimately I think it's the use of color that will make the difference for this point.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
I'm not sure why a Blue Jacket and a Shark would ever have to confront the other but sharks eat people when provoked.
Sharks

The Analysis
As far as name symbolism, both logos are very appropriate. Despite there being no blue jackets in the logo, I think we all get it. The Ohio flag is a very nice touch in location recognition. I'm so glad the CBJ with the electric green went away. Whose idea was that anyway? This point may have gone to the Sharks except for the fact that I see no real connection to San Jose in it. That and the fact that there's a hockey stick in it and we certainly don't need that.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

2-1

 

Red Wings vs Flames

	vs
RED WINGS		FLAMES
1-3		3-0

The Aesthetics
For excellent use of color and simplicity over detail, this point goes happily to the Flames. The Red Wings could use a contemporary update to what is becoming a stale logo. Detroit fans, please don't lynch me. You know it's true.
Flames

The Nickname
Fire burns just about everything — even Red Wings would go up in Flames. End of story.
Flames

The Analysis
This is where the Red Wings logo can take the point. I really like the wheel attached to the wing. It shows a connection to the team's home city of Detroit. The Flames logo is top-notch, no doubt, but what in it symbolizes Calgary aside from the "C" which could symbolize any city whose name started with that letter? Maybe next time.
Red Wings

WINNER

2-1