Sabres vs Thrashers

	vs
SABRES		THRASHERS
3-1		2-3

The Aesthetics
We've got pointy edges and curved lines galore. Don't you love it! If we just start denying points for the use of a hockey stick in a logo, I think that's a bit harsh. Aside from that particular blunder, the Thrashers actually have a very strong logo. The "Buffaslug" as Sabres fans call it, lacks color and imagination.
Thrashers

The Nickname
A little bird has no chance against a sharp sword. Or so you would think. The Thrasher, however, is smart enough to fly away from the man with the Sabre.
Thrashers

The Analysis
One question: Where is the sabre in the Sabres logo? When it gets found, I will award them this point. Until then, the Thrashers logo is fitting if for no other reason than it features an actual bird. The coolest thing, in my opinion, is the swatch of light blue at the top of the shield that the team has actually made into a primary color.
Thrashers

WINNER

3-0

 

Hurricanes vs Islanders

	vs
HURRICANES		ISLANDERS
6-0		1-6

The Aesthetics
This one is quite obvious. One spells out the entire team name, the other doesn't. One blatantly features a hockey stick and an ugly puck. The other features a subtle puck and is just all-around better looking. Hmm, who could it be?
Hurricanes

The Nickname
Hurricanes have a habit of devastating islands leaving Islanders homeless from time to time.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
This is where you can't take for granted the little things like sending a shout-out to your home crowd. The outline of Long Island in the background of the blue circle in the Islanders logo makes a big difference. Here's the thing, though. On one side, I see a hurricane. Show me an actual islander and you can have this point, Isles. The "Gordon's fisherman" logo may have been silly, but at least I saw an islander in it.
Hurricanes

WINNER

3-0

 

Lightning vs Flyers

	vs
LIGHTNING		FLYERS
2-3		4-5

The Aesthetics
You would think the fact that the entire team name being spelled out would automatically lose this point for the Lightning. But that's not quite the case. The Lightning logo makes much better use of color in that there's more of it. Despite wearing black home jerseys, the only black in the logo is the drop shadow on the bolt. The Flyers logo is almost all black but for the orange circle in the middle.
Lightning

The Nickname
No bird can Fly through a Lightning storm. It would get zapped!
Lightning

The Analysis
Neither logo makes a representation of its home city. The Lightning wear a shoulder patch with the outline of the state of Florida behind the bolt, but that logo's not in this competition. This one spells out the whole name and therefore defeats the purpose of what a symbol should be. The Flyers, however, does that very well. It's a "P" for Philly with a wing attached. (I guess the "P" flies.)
Flyers

WINNER

2-1

 

Thrashers vs Hurricanes

	vs
THRASHERS		HURRICANES
2-2		5-0

The Aesthetics
Both of these logos were introduced within a year of each other in the late '90s. The similarities I see are in the form of lots of sharp points. Also one has a hockey stick and the other a puck. Though the Hurricanes do a much better job of integrating the puck more subtly in that it's the "eye of the storm." I like that and the colors along with the logo's simplicity. But this wasn't an easy decision. The Thrashers logo is pretty killer too. Maybe if the Thrasher wasn't holding that dumb stick...
Hurricanes

The Nickname
A Thrasher can't fly in a Hurricane. He'll become all disoriented and what have you.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
Both teams have appropriate names for their particular locations. Both have great colors, though for a team that wears blue, the Thrashers logo doesn't make very good use of it. It's difficult to say who gets the point here, though. I see a Thrasher and I see a Hurricane and while neither makes an effort at representing Atlanta or the Carolinas, neither really needs to anyway. And though I can't say for certain exactly why, I feel this point should go to the Thrashers logo if for no other reason than that it doesn't deserve to be swept. Thus ending the series of shutouts for the Hurricanes.
Thrashers

WINNER

2-1

 

Flyers vs Senators

	vs
FLYERS		SENATORS
4-4		3-2

The Aesthetics
It's funny. I never noticed the similarities between these two logos until just now. Both have wing-like elements on the left side and semi-circles on the right. Anyway, the Flyers logo has the same problem as the Sharks in the West. Too much black and not enough of the primary color. Find a way to make this logo more orange and then we'll talk. Until then, despite being a little heavy-handed with the detailing, the Senators logo is so much cooler looking.
Senators

The Nickname
Within the government, the Senator holds a lot of power over what laws should be passed to, say, protect endangered species, some of which may Fly. I know, a stretch, but you come up with something better. Seriously, comment away if you feel like it.
Senators

The Analysis
I'm not entirely sure what a Flyer is meant to be — perhaps a generic bird of some sort — but this competition is about logos, not team names. And when you say Philadelphia Flyers it's difficult for me to picture anything but the winged "P." So I'd say they got it right. I'm just not as happy with the Senators logo. I've heard rumblings that the Sens will go full-time with what is currently the third jersey logo. It's light years ahead of this one and I'd love to see them do it. Maybe then they can have this particular point.
Flyers

WINNER

2-1

 

Maple Leafs vs Rangers

	vs
MAPLE LEAFS		RANGERS
0-6		2-6

The Aesthetics
Don't we just love those Original Six matches? We have a combined total of 31 letters embedded in these two logos. How much worse can it get? There's no reason to spell out your team name all over a logo that is supposed to serve as a symbolic replacement for said name. I like the use of multiple colors in the Rangers logo but it's the unique maple leaf silhouette that at least gives us some graphical representation of the team name. They'll take the point.
Maple Leafs

The Nickname
If we're sticking with the whole park ranger interpretation — which is lame, I know — then its the Ranger who is in charge of protecting the Maple trees and their Leafs.
Rangers

The Analysis
Neither logo makes a real effort at city recognition but each has been in those cities for nearly a century. It's not that I hate old logos or those which have been around for many years. That's a big part of what hockey is today. These two logos are some of the most recognizable in all of sports. But that doesn't mean that graphically we still have to live in the early 20th century. Make a few upgrades to show us that these teams exist in 2007. A good example is the Bruins. Ward off staleness, folks. Now when it comes down to it, the Leafs logo takes this point for unique lettering and a very cool maple leaf outline. (Shut up! Did the Maple Leafs really just get a win?)
Maple Leafs

WINNER

2-1

 

Canadiens vs Flyers

	vs
CANADIENS		FLYERS
5-2		4-3

The Aesthetics
Here, both teams have rather generic names both logos are letter-based — one a "C" and the other a "P." And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'm all for it. I'm also all for the use of color, which is rather lacking in the Flyers logo. A single small circle of orange doesn't exactly spread around the color. Like I've said, I like the third jersey logo a little better.
Canadiens

The Nickname
I'm not sure how a battle between a Canadien and a Flyer would go down, but if we say a Flyer is a bird, those are nasty little pooping machines and no one is safe when they are airborne.
Flyers

The Analysis
One thing I should've mentioned in the Aesthetics section is the attractive simplicity of these two logos. There's not a lot of annoying detail here, just plain old great logos. And they're similar in a lot of ways. In fact, both are division leaders at the moment. But ultimately, it's the use of color, the subtle "H" and the Flyers logo's need for an upgrade that insures the victory for the Canadiens.
Canadiens

WINNER

2-1

 

Capitals vs Canadiens

	vs
CAPITALS		CANADIENS
3-2		5-1

The Aesthetics
The red, white and blue abound here with the Caps' recent return to the original colors. Unfortunately for them, I felt it was the bronze and blue that made them stand out — in a good way. For choosing a new logo that spells out the name — and uses a hockey stick and puck, all of which I hate — I should take the point away out of spite. But I'm not like that. The Habs' logo is actually better looking and more balanced.
Canadiens

The Nickname
A Canadien is a citizen and is therefore subject to the laws created and passed in the Capital.
Capitals

The Analysis
Being that it was just unveiled last month, the Capitals logo has a more contemporary feel than one that was basically designed almost a hundred years ago. Matched with the fact that the Caps actually makes an attempt at alluding to its home city with the stars of the D.C. flag representing Maryland, Virginia and the district itself, I'm tempted to give it to the Capitals right there. I can't say the Canadiens didn't put up a fight, though.
Capitals

WINNER

2-1

 

Islanders vs Rangers

	vs
ISLANDERS		RANGERS
0-6		2-5

The Aesthetics
You've been waiting for it. The big New York showdown. And how fitting for Independence Day. (Yeah, actually I don't know what relevance that has either.) First off, both logos break the cardinal rule of spelling out the name. On the upside, the Islanders logo at least does it a bit more artfully. The problem I have is the hockey stick and puck. As for the other one, blandness thy name is Rangers. Seriously, two words. Lady. Liberty.
Islanders

The Nickname
You know frankly, there's no reason an Islander couldn't also be a Ranger. Conundrum. But for argument's sake, we'll say they're two separate dudes — in a straight-up fistfight. Fishing net versus tranq gun. I think we all know who gets capped in this one.
Rangers

The Analysis
So we're even going into this category, but if you've been reading long enough, you already know where I'm going. The Rangers logo makes no attempt at recognizing its home city — unless you want to say the shield itself has an extremely subtle NY in it. Personally, I don't. With Long Island making an appearance in the Islanders logo, I have to send the point their way for the modicum of effort. (First victory for the Isles in the tourney.)
Islanders

WINNER

2-1

 

Penguins vs Canadiens

	vs
PENGUINS		CANADIENS
0-3		4-1

The Aesthetics
For clever design I'm going to award this point to the Canadiens. The Penguins logo loses it because of the blatant hockey stick that penguin is holding.
Canadiens

The Nickname
Canadiens and Penguins both live in the arctic. But humans can be vicious and penguins are not and so's the way it goes.
Canadiens

The Analysis
In prior matches, I've talked about how cool the Canadiens logo is for working in that mysterious "H." Some will say it stands for "hockey" but I like to think there's something more behind it. Something French, perhaps so as to tie the logo to its home city of Montreal. Meanwhile, the Penguins logo has no connection to Pittsburgh and might as well be from Kansas City. And as for the logo itself, I was always more a fan of the '90s penguin.
Canadiens

WINNER

3-0