Blue Jackets vs Blues

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		BLUES
4-1		4-4

The Aesthetics
Sometimes you can feel action in a still logo and I feel it in the Blue Jackets logo — in a good way. It's a very smart logo with appropriate attention to detail. I like the two-tone blue in the Blues logo but its not quite enough to steal this point away.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
A Blue Jacket carries a bayonet. A Blues man carries a sax. Do the math.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
The Blue Jackets name leaves little room to screw up the logo, although you wouldn't know it based on previous logos. This one just makes sense. The Ohio flag more than references the home state of the team while the Blues logo is really little more than a musical note with a wing. I don't really get the wing, but that's not why they're getting swept. The new Blue Jackets logo is just that good.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

3-0

 

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

 

Kings vs Blackhawks

	vs
KINGS		BLACKHAWKS
2-5		2-7

The Aesthetics
Both logos have a lot of detail but one thing I really like is their unique outlines. Imagine seeing just shadows of the logos. It's a good sign when you can place it based solely on that. More on that another day. Still, though, its the Kings with the obviously better looking logo. Defined and unique colors along with those subtle hockey sticks in the crown tip the scales in their favor.
Kings

The Nickname
I believe it was the King who ran the Indians and Chief Blackhawk out of town. He was a bastard.
Kings

The Analysis
The logos are appropriate for their teams. That's always a good start. The Kings logo, however, goes a step further in reference their home city with the suns on either side of the crown. Nothing really there in the Blackhawks logo. And it has too many colors.
Kings

WINNER

3-0

 

Rangers vs Devils

	vs
RANGERS		DEVILS
2-7		4-1

The Aesthetics
These two teams don't play very far from each other. Just across a river, really. The logos are very simplistic and lack a lot of unnecessary detail. What makes this decision easy is that while the Rangers logo spells out the name of the team, the Devils logo actually uses a subtle "NJ" to reference the home town.
Devils

The Nickname
The Devil is pretty evil. He can wreak a lot of havoc on anyone, Rangers included.
Devils

The Analysis
I like the red, white and blue in the Rangers logo, but I just really think darker versions of blue and red would look so much better. See the third jersey's crest and its shoulder patch. The Devils have good, strong colors and hell, red seems to be doing rather well in this competition.
Devils

WINNER

3-0

 

Sabres vs Penguins

	vs
SABRES		PENGUINS
3-3		0-4

The Aesthetics
As far as looks, the Sabres have one of the sharpest logos in sports despite its absolute irrelevance. It's got strong colors and really jumps out at you. The Penguins logo sort of blends in and gets bogged down in minute details. The '90s logo was much better. I do, however, like the gold more than the yellow.
Sabres

The Nickname
A Penguin is a little flightless bird. A Sabre is a rather sharp instrument used for cutting. You do the math.
Sabres

The Analysis
This is where the Sabres have yet to notch a point in the standings and the reason they can't seem to pull off a sweep. It's not a Sabre! As a young Florida kid just learning about hockey, I swear I remember thinking a sabre was a kind of bison. And it was thanks to the damn logo. I'm not a Sabres fan (though I know they hate the logo), but I think it needs to be changed. John Slabyk is an excellent artist. The Penguins logo, however, actually has a penguin in it. He's carrying a hockey stick which doesn't impress me, but nonetheless, we'll take it.
Penguins

WINNER

2-1