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

 

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

 

Hurricanes vs Rangers

	vs
HURRICANES		RANGERS
3-0		2-3

The Aesthetics
Straight off, the Hurricanes is obviously the more attractive logo. And that's what this point is for. The Rangers logo gets a demerit for spelling out the name of the team.
Hurricanes

The Nickname
Hurricanes sweep up everything, Rangers included.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
The Hurricanes logo is solid, symbolizes the team name and has great colors. My only wish is that it was more circular, less oval-shaped. Still, the Rangers logo doesn't really do anything to help its case to prevent the sweep. The logo is indeed a classic and I would probably be roasted for bad-mouthing an Original Six logo, but it needs an update. It gets one every couple of decades and I feel like now is the time for another change. Go with the Statue of Liberty head. I keep telling you that. The Hurricanes remain the only perfect team so far in this tournament.
Hurricanes

WINNER

3-0

 

Lightning vs Devils

	vs
LIGHTNING		DEVILS
1-2		2-0

The Aesthetics
Both logos have smart colors and designs stemming from circles. The Devils logo makes use of a very subtle "NJ" while there is nothing subtle about the Lightning logo. They're my team and I hate to see it, but they lose the point here.
Devils

The Nickname
You think the Devil is so all-powerful? He's got nothing on Lightning.
Lightning

The Analysis
The Lightning primary logo really has no redeeming qualities. Its one saving grace is on the shoulder with the words gone and a map of Florida in the background. If that were the primary, maybe we could talk. Despite no real representation of its home town, the Devils get this point for combining subtle letters with a strong, name-reflecting logo.
Devils

WINNER

2-1

 

Hurricanes vs Capitals

	vs
HURRICANES		CAPITALS
2-0		3-1

The Aesthetics
The Hurricanes logo is just better looking all around. Need I even bother getting into the bit about logos which are nothing more than a team name spelled out?
Hurricanes

The Nickname
The weather doesn't care about places. A Hurricane would blow the Capital away.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
I'm a big fan of the Caps' new colors — despite being one of the few people on earth who actually liked the blue and bronze. For the last time, it looked absolutely nothing like the USPS logo. Unless you're blind or something. Still we've been through why the Hurricanes logo is so befitting the name and why I think the U.S. Capitol dome was much more appropriate than three stars and 18 letters. I like the secondary logo for the Capitals better than this. Chalk up another sweep for the 'Canes.
Hurricanes

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Lightning vs Hurricanes

	vs
LIGHTNING		HURRICANES
1-0		1-0

The Aesthetics
We have a Southeast Division battle on our hands. Mad props to the Hurricanes for not spelling out the team name as well as what I would consider to be the subtle use of a puck in the eye of the storm. Now I may be hypocritical about many things but here's the thing: subtlety in logos rocks! You have to look at it over and over again so if you discover something new each time, you've got yourself a winner.
Hurricanes

The Nickname
You know, you would think these two go hand-in-hand right. Well as any gulf coast resident can tell you, there is no Lightning in a Hurricane. Just wind to blow everything away.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
As a Lightning fan, I find myself rather despressed at the prospect of my team being shut out in a tournament I designed. Sadly, however, this is the case. Our logo is just not good. But don't let that take away from how good the Hurricanes logo is. I've always thought it was among the best. My only complaint would be that its aspect ratio is a little off. Can we have it a little more circular please?
Hurricanes

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Thrashers vs Penguins

	vs
THRASHERS		PENGUINS
1-2		0-2

The Aesthetics
Neither team has been very strong in the tournament up to this point, but it's still early for them. Again we see a pair of logos which prominently feature hockey sticks. It's a hockey team so that is just too obvious for my taste. Regardless of that, in my humble opinion, the Thrashers logo is cooler.
Thrashers

The Nickname
The Thrashers is a bird of flight but the Penguin is a bird of non-flight. The Thrasher could taunt the Penguin if either ever made it into the same climate zone.
Thrashers

The Analysis
Neither logo does a good job of representing their city, but my eye is just more attracted to the Thrashers logo for its use of multiple colors. Don't get me wrong, I like the Vegas gold in the Penguins logo, but they aren't going to beat the Thrashers.
Thrashers

WINNER

3-0