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