Red Wings vs Canucks

	vs
RED WINGS		CANUCKS
1-5		2-4

The Aesthetics
Both logos are a little heavy on the detail but with the Canucks, it doesn't seem to detract. The extra colors make it look a little busier than the Red Wings logo, but color never hurt anyone.
Canucks

The Nickname
If he was a woodsman, a Canuck would perhaps hunt a Red-Winged bird.
Canucks

The Analysis
This has been the downfall of the Canucks logo throughout this tournament. The team will be getting a new one this summer but not for another three weeks. For those of you who haven't been following along, it's the misplaced whale that's giving me a problem here. A Canuck is not a whale. Anyway, we get a red wing in the Red Wings logo, which is topped off with an old-time wheel to symbolize the Motor City.
Red Wings

WINNER

2-1

 

Hurricanes vs Devils

	vs
HURRICANES		DEVILS
7-0		4-0

The Aesthetics
So there's black. There's white. And then of course there's red. Lots of red. It seems to make for unbeatable combination. Neither of these logos has yet to lose a match. Until today that is. For this match, we'll really have to get down to business. The reason I like the Hurricanes logo better than the Devils for this point speaks to the design itself. The Hurricanes logo leaves things to the eye to interpret. There's no thick, black outline telling you where everything is. Do you see what I mean? Or am I talking out of my ass?
Hurricanes

The Nickname
People in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast probably think a Hurricane is the work of the Devil.
Devils

The Analysis
I'm almost convinced that its ths silver outlining the Hurricanes logo that makes it look so much cooler than the Devils. In the Devils logo, though, its the subtle "NJ" in the form of a devil that makes it cool. But then that puck in the eye of the hurricane. How will any logo ever beat it?
Hurricanes

WINNER

2-1

 

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

 

Islanders vs Panthers

	vs
ISLANDERS		PANTHERS
1-7		4-1

The Aesthetics
Despite the small detail in the Panthers logo, it's fairly obvious they're getting this point.
Panthers

The Nickname
These two aren't common foes, but a Panther could eat an Islander if he was hungry enough.
Panthers

The Analysis
As far as home town representations go, the outline of Long Island is giving the Islanders logo a leg up. Unfortunately for them, as far as overall logo designs go, the use of the team name, a hockey stick and a puck all take away too much. And how cool is that panther anyway?
Panthers

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Devils vs Sabres

	vs
DEVILS		SABRES
3-0		3-2

The Aesthetics
This is a quality Eastern Conference matchup. Or so it would seem on the face of it. Both logos have a few simple colors and a simple, clean design. But it's the subtle "NJ" in the devil that puts the Devils logo over.
Devils

The Nickname
The Devil is a pretty nasty character. You'll need more than a Sabre to defeat him.
Devils

The Analysis
This is where the Sabres logo has yet to earn a single point in the competition so far. Where is the sword? At least we see a silhouette with horns and a pointy tail in the Devils logo. We know what that is. If I didn't know any better I'd say the other logo was for a team called the Bison or the Buffaloes. Not the Sabres. I've gone though the whole Buffalo thing before. No sense in beating that horse. We'll call today sweep day.
Devils

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

 

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

 

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