Panthers vs Lightning

	vs
PANTHERS		LIGHTNING
7-1		3-3

The Aesthetics
Time to look at a pair of cross-state rivals. The two logos have almost no commonalities. And that works in favor of the Panthers. That being said, this is an easy point to determine. Just so I'm not cutting corners, I won't neglect the explanations. While the Panthers logo is a little more detailed, the words in the Lightning logo do it no favors. I love the bolt across the middle, but it needs more. Good thing for the Bolts, a new logo is in the offing this summer.
Panthers

The Nickname
Like most outdoor creatures, Panthers are vulnerable to a bolt of Lightning.
Lightning

The Analysis
Neither logo makes any effort at referencing their home cities, not that its really necessary as the team name does that for them. The colors are appropriate and cool and its tough to say who deserves this point. Unfortunately for the Lightning, this is one more instance where the 17 letters strewn across the logo will be detrimental.
Panthers

WINNER

2-1

 

Kings vs Blackhawks

	vs
KINGS		BLACKHAWKS
2-5		2-7

The Aesthetics
Both logos have a lot of detail but one thing I really like is their unique outlines. Imagine seeing just shadows of the logos. It's a good sign when you can place it based solely on that. More on that another day. Still, though, its the Kings with the obviously better looking logo. Defined and unique colors along with those subtle hockey sticks in the crown tip the scales in their favor.
Kings

The Nickname
I believe it was the King who ran the Indians and Chief Blackhawk out of town. He was a bastard.
Kings

The Analysis
The logos are appropriate for their teams. That's always a good start. The Kings logo, however, goes a step further in reference their home city with the suns on either side of the crown. Nothing really there in the Blackhawks logo. And it has too many colors.
Kings

WINNER

3-0

 

Rangers vs Devils

	vs
RANGERS		DEVILS
2-7		4-1

The Aesthetics
These two teams don't play very far from each other. Just across a river, really. The logos are very simplistic and lack a lot of unnecessary detail. What makes this decision easy is that while the Rangers logo spells out the name of the team, the Devils logo actually uses a subtle "NJ" to reference the home town.
Devils

The Nickname
The Devil is pretty evil. He can wreak a lot of havoc on anyone, Rangers included.
Devils

The Analysis
I like the red, white and blue in the Rangers logo, but I just really think darker versions of blue and red would look so much better. See the third jersey's crest and its shoulder patch. The Devils have good, strong colors and hell, red seems to be doing rather well in this competition.
Devils

WINNER

3-0

 

Sabres vs Penguins

	vs
SABRES		PENGUINS
3-3		0-4

The Aesthetics
As far as looks, the Sabres have one of the sharpest logos in sports despite its absolute irrelevance. It's got strong colors and really jumps out at you. The Penguins logo sort of blends in and gets bogged down in minute details. The '90s logo was much better. I do, however, like the gold more than the yellow.
Sabres

The Nickname
A Penguin is a little flightless bird. A Sabre is a rather sharp instrument used for cutting. You do the math.
Sabres

The Analysis
This is where the Sabres have yet to notch a point in the standings and the reason they can't seem to pull off a sweep. It's not a Sabre! As a young Florida kid just learning about hockey, I swear I remember thinking a sabre was a kind of bison. And it was thanks to the damn logo. I'm not a Sabres fan (though I know they hate the logo), but I think it needs to be changed. John Slabyk is an excellent artist. The Penguins logo, however, actually has a penguin in it. He's carrying a hockey stick which doesn't impress me, but nonetheless, we'll take it.
Penguins

WINNER

2-1

 

Red Wings vs Ducks

	vs
RED WINGS		DUCKS
1-6		1-6

The Aesthetics
Despite using just one color, the Red Wings logo is at least a logo. The Ducks "wordmark" — despite earning a win yesterday — is still not really a logo in my opinion. I like the colors and the webbed duck foot for the "D" as I've been saying, but that doesn't change the overriding facts.
Red Wings

The Nickname
Ducks have wings, not Red Wings, but wings and more.
Ducks

The Analysis
The Red Wings often get this point for the wheel attached to the wing symbolizing Detroit as the Motor City. Unfortunately, the Ducks logo makes only a lamely blatant attempt at referencing Anaheim by actually writing out the name.
Red Wings

WINNER

2-1

 

Panthers vs Maple Leafs

	vs
PANTHERS		MAPLE LEAFS
6-1		1-6

The Aesthetics
Look at the contrast in these two logos sitting side-by-side. But let's be honest, which logo draws your eye better? While you could say the Panthers logo goes overboard on detail, you would have to say the Maple Leafs logo is sorely lacking in that category. And if that wasn't enough to give this point to the Panthers, the 17 letters in the Maple Leafs logo are.
Panthers

The Nickname
It's a Panther, you know, with razor sharp teeth and claws. And a Maple Leaf which has probably wilted and fallen from a tree. Sometimes things are obvious.
Panthers

The Analysis
While it's true that I've always liked the leaf silhouette, I'm turned off by the words inside it. There's so much that could be done with it. Add an outline. Perhaps a noteworthy landmark from Toronto like the CN Tower. Something to liven it up. But until the day comes when that happens, the Panthers will steal this point for the sweep.
Panthers

WINNER

3-0

 

Blackhawks vs Wild

	vs
BLACKHAWKS		WILD
2-6		5-0

The Aesthetics
More times than I'd like to admit I've explained the problems inherent with the Blackhawks logo. And all the reasons I love the Wild logo. But all you really have to do is look at the two of them right next to each other to know who deserves this point. Creativity gets the Wild this point.
Wild

The Nickname
You're nuts if you don't think Chief Blackhawk knows his way around the Wild.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
What you see is what you get when it comes to these teams' names. The logos are appropriate symbols for the names but one clearly does it better than the other. Simplify the Indian head, already! You can do it, Chicago! I believe in you. Meanwhile, like I said yesterday, the Wild logo more than goes out of its way to fit in so many little bits that you can look at it a million times and see something new every time. That's what a logo really should be.
Wild

WINNER

2-1

 

Ducks vs Blackhawks

	vs
DUCKS		BLACKHAWKS
0-6		2-5

The Aesthetics
While the Ducks logo is pretty much nothing more than a wordmark, at least it has a defined color scheme. Which is more than can be said about the Blackhawks logo. Aside from poor, cluttered design, the colors in the feather and face appear nowhere else on the uniform. Can it be true? Do the Ducks get their first point of the tournament here against the Blackhawks?
Ducks

The Nickname
I don't know if the Indians ate Duck, but I suppose if they did, one would be in danger around Chief Blackhawk.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
I truly wish for the Ducks' sake that the webbed "D" was the logo — by itself. It would give the team a much better overall performance. Of that I'm sure. But with all the other letters (nonsense) in this logo, it's difficult. But things aren't that much better for the Blackhawks logo. The clutter hurts my eyes. More than the letters. At the very least, the Ducks logo references its home town even if it is blatant. A win for the Ducks. Bet you never thought you'd see the day.
Ducks

WINNER

2-1

 

Canucks vs Wild

	vs
CANUCKS		WILD
3-4		4-0

The Aesthetics
This is a really difficult decision because I really like both of these logos. They're both attractive and use a unique color scheme. I also think its cool how they seem to be facing one another. Even though I'm a huge fan of the Canucks logo, the way the Wild logo works in a bear, a forest, a star, a river, mountains and a sunset all in one little graphic just floors me.
Wild

The Nickname
Right or wrong, we've been going on the idea that a Canuck is a woodsman of some sort. He therefore should be familiar with the Wild and know his way around.
Canucks

The Analysis
Even if the Canucks logo actually symbolized the team name — as opposed to being a whale — the Wild would still get this point. The star as the bear's eye conjures Minnesota's hockey history and the Minnesota North Stars. Subtlety works and I'm a big fan.
Wild

WINNER

2-1

 

Panthers vs Flyers

	vs
PANTHERS		FLYERS
5-1		4-6

The Aesthetics
Straight away, the Panthers logo seems a lot more striking. In comparison, the Flyers logo seems plain and colorless. Sometimes things aren't what they seem. But sometimes they are.
Panthers

The Nickname
Panthers can't Fly for more reasons than just that they haven't got any wings.
Flyers

The Analysis
Both logos are very appropriate to their teams. The colors aren't inherent but they work well. Only the Flyers logo makes a head fake toward recognizing the home city, but any favor they won there was lost with that lack of color problem they're having. Despite its strength, it's a bit of a dull logo to look at. And despite the minute details in the Panthers logo, it is interesting to look at and therefore wins this point.
Panthers

WINNER

2-1