Predators vs Blues

	vs
PREDATORS		BLUES
5-2		4-3

The Aesthetics
Both teams are halfway through the tournament and are currently at the top of their division. Let's see how they fare one-on-one. For one thing, their colors are similar and very cool. The Predators logo deals a lot in minute detail while the Blues logo mostly avoids it. Still, its the Predators who get this point for colors and overall sleekness.
Predators

The Nickname
What's with animals eating people today. We have a Predator dining on a Blues singer now.
Predators

The Analysis
Predators and Blues are both generic names. Same as Flyers or Wild or Canadiens. You're not really sure what the logo should look like but that means a lot of different things can work. Here, both logos make sense with the name (so, that's good) but its the Predators that goes a step further and creates an icon. (A trumpet or some type of musical instrument could've gotten the job done for the Blues.) And that's why this point goes to them.
Predators

WINNER

3-0

 

Devils vs Sabres

	vs
DEVILS		SABRES
3-0		3-2

The Aesthetics
This is a quality Eastern Conference matchup. Or so it would seem on the face of it. Both logos have a few simple colors and a simple, clean design. But it's the subtle "NJ" in the devil that puts the Devils logo over.
Devils

The Nickname
The Devil is a pretty nasty character. You'll need more than a Sabre to defeat him.
Devils

The Analysis
This is where the Sabres logo has yet to earn a single point in the competition so far. Where is the sword? At least we see a silhouette with horns and a pointy tail in the Devils logo. We know what that is. If I didn't know any better I'd say the other logo was for a team called the Bison or the Buffaloes. Not the Sabres. I've gone though the whole Buffalo thing before. No sense in beating that horse. We'll call today sweep day.
Devils

WINNER

3-0

 

Blackhawks vs Coyotes

	vs
BLACKHAWKS		COYOTES
2-4		2-2

The Aesthetics
Looking at these two logos side-by-side, the Coyotes logo is much cleaner. There's a lot going on in the Blackhawks logo, half of which I don't understand. There also isn't a clearly defined color scheme in this logo. There's no question what the Coyotes colors are. An easy point.
Coyotes

The Nickname
Coyotes beware when Chief Blackhawk is wielding a tomahawk.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
What I like about both logos is their ability to just be symbols of their teams. Though I suppose a lay person might thing Indians when they see the Blackhawks logo, the designers got a tough assignment with the name itself. I really hope one day the Blackhawks update their logo, though. Even if its just something they where on their shoulder. I don't dislike the Indian head, but would prefer something cleaner and more defined the color category. I say all this so that you know this isn't a throwaway point. They could've gotten it. However, the Coyotes have already done those things. Remember the team's original logo the year they moved to Phoenix? They've come a long way. And the colors say desert and that's what I mean by representation of the home town.
Coyotes

WINNER

2-1

 

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

 

Blues vs Sharks

	vs
BLUES		SHARKS
4-2		3-4

The Aesthetics
Both logos have cool, unique colors but its the Blues that makes better use of it. That paired with the Sharks logo's use of a hockey stick will give the Blues this point.
Blues

The Nickname
Here's another one of those eternal questions. Why would a Blues singer ever have to face a Shark? I guess it doesn't matter, just that the shark gets dinner.
Sharks

The Analysis
Blues as a team name doesn't leave you with a whole lot of logo options, so this works. I was a fan of the trumpets though, which the team wore as a shoulder patch in the late '90s. Can't have everything, though. The Sharks logo is easy — it's a shark — the creativity comes with the triangle as a basic shape and the broken hockey stick. I don't love hockey sticks in logos but this sort of makes sense for the Sharks. Still, we have a pair of solid logos which makes this a difficult match to determine. But we'll give it to the Sharks for that fierce logo among other things.
Sharks

WINNER

2-1

 

Blue Jackets vs Ducks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		DUCKS
3-1		0-5

The Aesthetics
Is there really a question here? Because it seems rather obvious to me.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
Bayonet versus beak. While at war the Blue Jacket would perhaps need to go hunt for food. A Duck would make an easy meal.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
I keep wishing the Ducks announce a change to their logo during this tournament. Just simply going to the webbed "D" would would for me. Until then, though, they'll likely continue to take a beating in this competition. Love the colors, hate the wordmark. The Blue Jackets logo, on the other hand, couldn't be more appropriate.
Blue Jackets

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

 

Kings vs Flames

	vs
KINGS		FLAMES
2-4		5-0

The Aesthetics
Solid color schemes and unique outlines are what we have here. The Kings logo is a little complicated but I like the subtle hockey sticks at the top of the crown. As for the Flames, simplicity can sometimes not work out. The flames on the left side of the logo seem unbalanced (which in some cases can be good), but I like the symmetry in the Kings emblem.
Kings

The Nickname
Flames could completely burn down everything the King's land and there isn't a whole lot he can do to stop it.
Flames

The Analysis
Nothing says Kings like a crown but the Flames logo actually has flames — and a "C" to symbolize Calgary. I also like the subtle suns on the sides of the crown to remind us the Kings live in California. It's a tough choice, but ultimately, the Flames get the point.
Flames

WINNER

2-1

 

Flames vs Coyotes

	vs
FLAMES		COYOTES
4-0		2-1

The Aesthetics
In an odd twist, both of these logos feel animate to me. I can almost see the flames flickering and hear the coyote howling. That's what you call strong logos. The reason that the Coyotes are getting this point over the Flames is that it feels a little more polished. That's understandable though, when you consider the 25 years difference in the age of the logos.
Coyotes

The Nickname
Fire pretty much burns up everything and if the Coyote couldn't escape the Flames, well, he'd be... toast.
Flames

The Analysis
Here's where we determine the winner of this match. The Coyotes logo is great but on looking at it, you don't really get a feel for where its from. And while you could make the case that the obvious desert colors point us to the southwestern U.S., I'd make the case that the flaming "C" will always stand for Calgary (despite anything I might have previously said that could indicate the contrary). Find me a Calgarian who doesn't recognize it. Or any hockey fan.
Flames

WINNER

2-1