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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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