Written by Andrew | 25 November 2009

Category #1: Our Original Team name was derived from a Historical Black Eye

 Atlanta: Used to be The Atlanta Flames, named after the “burning of Atlanta”

 ... We rode out of Atlanta by the Decatur road, filled by the marching troops and wagons of the Fourteenth Corps; and reaching the hill, just outside of the old rebel works, we naturally paused to look back upon the scenes of our past battles. We stood upon the very ground whereon was fought the bloody battle of July 22d, and could see the copse of wood where McPherson fell. Behind us lay Atlanta, smoldering and in ruins, the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over the ruined city.

– William T. Sherman, Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman, Chapter 21

Detroit: Used to be the Detroit Race Riots.  Wait...no they weren't.  That would be stupid. 

Winner: Detroit

Category #2: Quality of Third Jerseys

…yes I know I’ve used this one before, but cut me some slack on repeat categories, ok?

Atlanta:

 

Looks like an NFL reject doesn’t it?

Detroit:

 

Detroit: Again, not technically a third jersey, Detroit donned these in one regular season game after the Winter Classic. Will we see them again this year? No one knows. It’s an awesome mix of old school and new school. An ode to the 1920’s Detroit Cougars, this jersey helps remind us of our long and colorful history littered with success.

Winner: Detroit

 Category #3: Best Line Made from Players of Former Soviet States (Past or Present)

Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk & Maxim Afinogenov (RUS) with Nik Antropov (KAZ).

They form a formidable offensive threat.  Antropov is a beast at 6’6 and 240 lbs.  Kovalchuck, at 6’2 and 230 lbs is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the game (he has 13 goals in 14 games played).  Afinogenov seems to be rejuvenated and has great hands to feed his much larger linemates.

Detroit: Sergei Federov, Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov, Slava Kozlov, Vladamir Konstantinov

The Russian Five: they revolutionized the way the game is played in the NHL.  If not for that tragic car accident and Sergei’s greed, the Wings might have a few more Cups to their credit.

Winner: Detroit

Category #4: We LOVE Powder Blue

Atlanta: Actually, they call it “Thrasher Ice Blue”…seriously.  And boy do they love it; from their home jerseys to their *scoff* ONE banner.  They even like to refer to their home as Blueland.  Yep, they sure love blue.

Detroit: Not so much...

Winner: Atlanta

Prediction: It's going to be a high-scoring affair.  Hopefully a combination of inconsistent goaltending from Hotlanta and Detroit waking up from its goal-scoring slumber will end in a Detroit victory.  My gut says 7-5 Detroit, in a wild one.