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

 

Canucks vs Avalanche

	vs
CANUCKS		AVALANCHE
2-2		3-0

The Aesthetics
This is another one of those tough calls. I like it when they come along. Despite having similar color schemes, the two logos are quite unique. It's nice to see. Both logos stem from a letter but in different ways. And both have action. You see an orca whale leaping out of the ice in one and a puck-led pile of snow falling across the other. It's a tough call to make, but I'm going wth the Avalanche.
Avalanche

The Nickname
Even a Canuck himself is no match for an Avalanche. Maybe one day they'll find him like the frozen man.
Avalanche

The Analysis
The Avs have the win so we might as well give them the sweep. Actually, they earned it. It's a solid logo that needs not make a fuss over its locale as the team name itself takes care of that. I'm still none the wiser as to the significance of a whale to a team named the Canucks despite the fairly obvious ties to its mother corporation Orca Bay. Make that one more for the 'Lanche.
Avalanche

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Blue Jackets vs Canucks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		CANUCKS
2-1		2-1

The Aesthetics
The Canucks have a unique color scheme and that gives them a leg up. Red, white and blue tends to be overused. I was never a fan of the electric green in the old Blue Jackets logo and I know these colors fit well, but still. Purely on looks, which logo would I rather be wearing?
Canucks

The Nickname
Blue Jackets carry bayonets and Canucks are, what, woodsman? So axes, then. Jackets win in a "war."
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
This is what you call a resounding point win. Look at these two logos and what they're meant to represent. A silver star draped in the Ohio flag for a team from Columbus named for the Union soldiers could be a more fitting logo. What's a Canuck? Well it sure isn't an orca whale or a Native American tribe.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

2-1