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

 

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

 

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

 

Canadiens vs Hurricanes

	vs
CANADIENS		HURRICANES
4-0		4-0

The Aesthetics
We're looking at a couple of very strong logos here, based on their records. It's hard to determine which is the more aesthetically pleasing of the two. I'm going with the Hurricanes with their more contemporary look. I think the Canadiens could stand to liven things up a bit.
Hurricanes

The Nickname
A Canadien wouldn't know his way around a Hurricane and would almost surely drown or be blown away.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
Both team names are appropriate enough that an element symbolizing the home city is not entirely necessary. As for the logos themselves, I'm a fan of subtlety and the Hurricanes logo has a puck while the Canadiens logo has an "H" which I've been told stands for "hockey." This is also a difficult decision but the Hurricanes is an undeniably great logo that may just be one of those classics.
Hurricanes

WINNER

3-0

 

Bruins vs Panthers

	vs
BRUINS		PANTHERS
1-1		3-1

The Aesthetics
This isn't really a hard point to award. The Bruins logo might have a better chance if it somehow incorporated an actual bruin. A bear as fierce as this cat would sure make for some stiff competition.
Panthers

The Nickname
Panther versus Bruin. Who wins? I think the bear has the upper hand what with its size and all.
Bruins

The Analysis
The only relevance the Bruins logo has to Boston is the spoked "B," although that could just as easily stand for Bruins. What I like about the Panthers is the name itself conjures the home town. All in all, the Panthers logo does a better job of representing its team.
Panthers

WINNER

2-1

 

Canadiens vs Maple Leafs

	vs
CANADIENS		MAPLE LEAFS
3-0		0-5

The Aesthetics
They're two of the most storied teams in the league and one of the biggest rivalries in all of professional sports. But when it comes to which of the two has a better logo, the answer is pretty clear.
Canadiens

The Nickname
A Canadien dude walking down the street crushes many Maple Leafs under his feet. That's just how it goes.
Canadiens

The Analysis
Both logos are simple but its the red that makes the Canadiens logo stand out. The spelled-out name only detracts from the Maple Leafs logo, because I think the leaf silhouette is great. I'm a little disappointed that simple letter "C" — with a subtle "H" hidden inside — is all that is meant to symbolize the team. But sometimes you get a name that's difficult to do more than a letter with. The Habs complete the sweep.
Canadiens

WINNER

3-0

 

Islanders vs Canadiens

	vs
ISLANDERS		CANADIENS
0-3		2-0

The Aesthetics
The Isles have yet to win match while the Habs have yet to lose. Let's see if anything changes. Now I like circular logos, but I hate the spelling out of team names. It seems so unnecessary. Logos that stem from a single letter are usually lazy but in this case, there's something special about the Canadiens.
Canadiens

The Nickname
I'm not sure why a fisherman and a Frenchman would ever come to blows, but in a straight-up fistfight, my money is on the Islander over the Canadien.
Islanders

The Analysis
The Canadiens logo is one of those old traditions so I'll probably get crucified for bad-mouthing it. But that's okay. I understand. I would just like to know what makes it unique to Montreal. At least the Islanders logo has a map of Long Island despite its use of both a hockey stick and puck. However its the very use of those two elements that defaults the point to the Canadiens.
Canadiens

WINNER

2-1

 

Senators vs Lightning

	vs
SENATORS		LIGHTNING
2-2		1-1

The Aesthetics
This point goes the way of the Senators for other reasons than just that the Lightning logo spells out the team's name. It's also overly simplistic — like something a five-year-old child would draw. The Senators logo has the power to strike fear.
Senators

The Nickname
A bolt of Lightning would strike a Senator dead — or at least unconscious.
Lightning

The Analysis
With Tampa considered by some to be the Lightning capital of the world, no name could be more appropriate. On the other hand, a better logo might be what's required. If only we could lose all the letters from it. Did you know there are 17? The Senators logo gets the point for a better depiction of its namesake.
Senators

WINNER

2-1

 

Capitals vs Maple Leafs

	vs
CAPITALS		MAPLE LEAFS
2-1		0-4

The Aesthetics
The new Capitals logo was just unveiled last week. It's sharp but it breaks one of my cardinal rules. And you know they're gospel, buddy. If we look we see both teams make the mistake of spelling out the full name in the logo. But someone has to get the point. The Capitals logo gets it for the good colors.
Capitals

The Nickname
If lawmakers in the Capital can pass legislation to, say, protect maple trees, they then have the upper hand on a Maple Leaf. Crazy thought.
Capitals

The Analysis
Both logos spell out the full team name so nobody's getting any default points here. The saving grace then has to come in how the logo depicts the name. Again, I was always a fan of the capitol building but three stars does not a point get. I've said before that a silhouette is too easy, but let me eat my words now. This one is very practical in comparison.
Maple Leafs

WINNER

2-1

 

Islanders vs Sabres

	vs
ISLANDERS		SABRES
0-2		2-1

The Aesthetics
As much as Sabres fans in general have made well known their distaste for the new logo, it's actually a very strong sports team logo. Simple design, great colors. The Islanders, however, make use of an unnecessary hockey stick and puck. We already know it's a hockey team.
Sabres

The Nickname
Could an Islander really defend himself against a Sabre-wielding swordsman? I think not.
Sabres

The Analysis
Here is where the Islanders avoid getting swept. The map of Long Island in the background of the logo is great and the classic design is very recognizable. Unfortunately in a logo for the Sabres, there isn't a sword in sight. Why, I wonder. Why must every team from Buffalo use the animal in the primary logo? Stop it, already.
Islanders

WINNER

2-1