Coyotes vs Avalanche

	vs
COYOTES		AVALANCHE
2-0		5-0

The Aesthetics
Brick red and burgundy. Not your common logo colors, but they make for some strong, cool-looking logos. And both logos represent the team name well. You've got a howling Coyote on one side and an avalanche falling down a mountain shaped like an "A" on the other. Who to choose? So I'm going to look at it from a classic perspective. I see the Avs with the same logo in 50 years. The Coyotes? Not so much.
Avalanche

The Nickname
I don't think Coyotes live in the mountains or even cold climates, but if one found himself amidst an Avalanche, it would surely do him in.
Avalanche

The Analysis
Neither logo goes out of its way to represent the home town. The Avalanche logo comes closest with the snow-capped mountain but that just means the team was named well. The Coyotes take care of Phoenix with a reference on the shoulder patch but this competition doesn't take that into account. So as you can see, this also is a very difficult point to award. For the subtle puck and clever use of the team's initial, this point goes the way of the Avs.
Avalanche

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Avalanche vs Sharks

	vs
AVALANCHE		SHARKS
4-0		3-2

The Aesthetics
I truly believe the West has some of the best logos in the league. The colors are even just cool to look at. But only one can take the point. I like the incorporation of the "A" in the Avs logo while at the same time being annoyed at the lack of color used in the Sharks. The graphic is misleading as the only teal in the logo itself is in a thin outline of the triangle.
Avalanche

The Nickname
This is another tricky one. What business would a Shark have on a mountainside during an Avalanche? Unless you make the case that by avoiding the mountain altogether, he's got the upper hand on the snowy slide.
Sharks

The Analysis
Okay, let's dig deep now. You can pretty much guess the team name from both logos though I wish they would've both done more to represent their city, but I'll live. However! There's nothing I hate more than the blatant use of something like a hockey stick (see Sharks) — despite it being eaten by a shark — and nothing I admire more than the subtle use of something like a puck (see Avs). And so as you can see the choice is rather clear.
Avalanche

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

 

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

 

Oilers vs Wild

	vs
OILERS		WILD
1-7		3-0

The Aesthetics
This one so easy it's practically screaming in my ear. Need I really explain it?
Wild

The Nickname
What would an Oiler do if he found himself out in the Wild? Probably get eaten by a bear, I imagine.
Wild

The Analysis
When it comes to a logo that portrays a team name without actually being blunt about it, I think we all know who wins here too. The only thing missing from the Wild logo that you find in the wild of Minnesota are the lakes. But that would probably be difficult to work in. As for the Oilers, I've said it before. There's a shoulder patch and a third jersey crest that would make me much happier. Consider yourself swept, Oilers.
Wild

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Canucks vs Coyotes

	vs
CANUCKS		COYOTES
2-3		1-0

The Aesthetics
Both of these logos made their debut within the last ten years and have a few similar elements. The Canucks color scheme is a little more dynamic but the Coyotes logo looks a little more animated. This is a really difficult decision since both logos are just so cool. I would flip a coin, but that doesn't seem fair. If it came down to which logo I'd rather have on my jersey, I'd have to go with the Coyotes.
Coyotes

The Nickname
Canucks may go hunting for Coyotes. It's possible.
Canucks

The Analysis
This is usually the Canucks logo's downfall. Aside from the "C" the logo forms, I can't quite figure out what an Indian-designed orca whale leaping out of ice has to do with Canucks. At least coyotes are common in the deserts of Arizona. But that's not even the point. It's the logo that has to match the name, not the name that has to match the city, necessarily. Now that is a coyote!
Coyotes

WINNER

2-1

 

Rangers vs Bruins

	vs
RANGERS		BRUINS
2-4		1-2

The Aesthetics
We've got a couple more Original Six teams here and neither comes in with a great record. The colors, shapes and designs of these two logos are very different from each other. But that doesn't mean they can't be compared. The drawback of the Rangers logo is the 14 letters that spell out the team name all over it. It needs an update... just like the Bruins logo got recently. It's pretty sharp-looking now, if you ask me.
Bruins

The Nickname
Don't tell me, back to the old park ranger bit again? Yes, but with a twist. If he's not careful the Ranger could get mauled and eaten by a Bruin.
Bruins

The Analysis
As far as representing the team name graphically, neither does a very effective job. In the Bruins logo, where's the bear? At least we have a "B" but that could stand for "Boston" or "Bruins." With the Rangers logo, I'm not sure why they don't switch to Lady Liberty on a full-time basis. This point is difficult to award because neither logo earned it. The Rangers logo takes it by a very slight margin.
Rangers

WINNER

2-1

 

Lightning vs Islanders

	vs
LIGHTNING		ISLANDERS
1-3		0-5

The Aesthetics
With a combined one win and nine matches between them, these are two rather weak logos. Both spell out the team names and the creativity of making the bottom end of the "Y" in NY into a hockey stick almost overcomes the use of the stick itself and the puck. It's almost like choosing the lesser of two evils here. The Bolts will get the point.
Lightning

The Nickname
Lightning would strike an Islander dead, especially if he's out on his boat in the middle of a storm. Where do I come up with this shit?
Lightning

The Analysis
There'll be no sweep here. The Long Island map keeps winning me over, especially when the Lightning logo has no relevance to the Tampa Bay area outside of the wordmark.
Islanders

WINNER

2-1