"Chillin" by Wale' (feat. Lady Gaga)

Look at, Lookin At, Lookin at me
Look at that, look how they lookin at me
Eyes all Stickin Like Honey on Bees
Look At That, Look How they Lookin At Me

Yeah DC Chillin, PG Chillin
My Name WALE and I came to Get It
Came to Get it, Came to Get It
My Name Wale'

This round two reflection, before we focus on the glory of Thunder history achieved on the magical evening of April 24, 2010 (first trip onto the Conference Finals), starts with a little swagger and beat.

With Kelly Cup Playoffs and the glory that is all-clutch things involving the Thunder, Kelly Czuy, Andrew Perugini, Oren Eizenman, J.F. Caudron, etc. and their jones for the clutch, there seemed to be an unwelcome, mutating subplot that came out of nowhere.

Choice of music.

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M-V-P!! (1st round)

If you‘re reading this, you're still alive, and are not suffering from hockey-induced conditions worthy of heart meds.

The best way to describe the Thunder four-game series win (over the Alaska Aces: remarkable.

There were seven lead changes in four games. Everyone on the Thunder showed up on the scoresheet - even Andrew Perugini. The Thunder combined for ten goals in 28 minutes of play (dating back to Game 3) - a feat I have never seen before in hockey. The Aces are out in April, their earliest since pre-ECHL-Aces-for-sale-on-ebay days.

We saw the goosebump inducing: Stockton Arena being sent into pandemonium when the Thunder took a 4-3 lead in the third period in a five-goal rally, then rolling off five goals in the first period of game 4, then letting the roof blow off when the clock hit zero in the first series clinching win on Thunder home ice, ever.

We even saw the bizarre: a second goaltending change in a playoff game (Sauer back in for Reid in game 4), and then Reid being held back by teammates and staff from a heated meltdown on the bench.

Remember when we said early in October: it's a long season. The Thunder began 0-4. The Aces began 4-0.

The Thunder couldn't score to save their lives (six goals in that span).

Alaska couldn't be cooled off with a fire hose containing the pressure of a Landa (18 goals in first 5 games).

All of a sudden, the Aces are headed to the first tee. The Thunder gets to grow the playoff beards longer and is 12 wins away from the Kelly Cup.

It leaves me to reflect on the heroes of the first round:

-          Andrew Perugini: his goals-against-average (3.76) and save percentage (.899) aren't flattering, but he was thrusted into high-octane hockey that forced him to make a combined 86 saves in the last two games. He spared the Thunder in game two with a surreal glove save on Jarrett Konkle. Bottom line, he made the clutch, game-defining or changing saves when needed.

-          Jordan Bendfeld: beast. You have to feel for Nick Mazzolini going down in the midst of the scrum in the first period in what was a punch that was completely blown out of proportion. All he did after that: get the attention of the Aces for the rest of the series, and deliver a three point, +7 effort that included a breakaway goal in Game 4 to help deliver the knockout punch.

-          Oren Eizenman: seven assists in four games and two in the series clincher (set-up Caudron's give-and-go goal to make it 4-3)

-          Chris D'Alvise: four goals and put the game three rally away to make it 6-4.

-          James Bates: produced as big-game players should - 6 points in 4 games. Had three in Game 4.

-          Czuy: would have been the runaway lead for MVP if not for a scoreless output in Game 5. The man knows simply how to turn it on, come playoff time (five points in four games - that's now 21 points in 16 first round games).