Edmonton Oilers fans have perfected the art of getting under an opposing goaltender's skin during playoff season, and this year's target proved to be a good sport about the whole affair.
Anaheim Ducks netminder Lukáš Dostál found himself on the receiving end of chants from the Rogers Place crowd during their first-round matchup, though the rookie couldn't quite make out what exactly the faithful were yelling.
"No, no. It's fine," Dostál said with a chuckle during a media availability on Tuesday. "I knew they were chanting something, but I wasn't sure if it was my name or something else."
The confusion, it turns out, was warranted. Social media users and observers quickly noted that "Lukas" bears a striking resemblance to "Gudas"—as in Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Whether intentional or coincidental, the chant's true target remained delightfully ambiguous.
For Dostál, it's all part of the playoff experience he's soaking in during his first-ever NHL post-season run. In his opening game, the 24-year-old made 30 saves on 34 shots—a solid debut under the brightest of lights.
"It feels great. Obviously, they chant so I'll make some mistake. It's part of it. It's fun. These are the moments you just have to soak in and enjoy as well," Dostál explained.
The tradition of chanting opposing goalies' names has long been a staple of Edmonton playoff hockey. But according to former Oilers netminder Devan Dubnyk, first-name chants carry a different psychological weight than last-name chants.
"100 per cent Devan got in my head more," Dubnyk shared on Oilersnation After Dark following Game 1. "That's disrespectful. You can't call someone by their first name. By the end of my career, if a player called me by my first name, I don't think I'd respond. It wasn't even in my brain that my name was Devan."
For Game 2 on Wednesday, the chant situation may become moot. Ducks captain Radko Gudas has been ruled day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will miss the matchup. Gudas struggled in Game 1, with a notable error in the third period—blowing a tire while skating backwards—that directly led to Jason Dickinson's tying goal. The captain did not return to the ice after the incident.
As the series progresses, Dostál will need to continue his stellar play if Anaheim hopes to advance. The young goaltender's ability to stay composed under pressure—chanting or otherwise—may prove crucial to the Ducks' playoff hopes.
This article is based on reporting from OilersNation. For more coverage of Edmonton Oilers playoff hockey, visit OilersNation.com.