NCAA Hockey Tournament: Max Novak scores pretty goal for Union (GIF)

In the first matchup of the NCAA tournament, Union and Vermont are kicking off the East Regional. After Union scored an early goal, Vermont answered back to knot the score at one. Then the Dutchmen went on a power play with a chance to grab the lead back, and Max Novak made a pretty nifty play to find the back of the net.

It wasn't an easy finish for the junior, who first had to corral a pass from Kevin Sullivan before getting the puck on goal from an angle. The Dutchmen's power play was buzzing for its entire shift, and was finally able to stretch Vermont out enough to find some space for a quality chance. Union held that 2-1 advantage for the rest of the period, and will begin the second period ahead by that margin.

h/t to @czero for the GIF

For more updates on today's game, and all action from the East Regional, follow me on Twitter @ev_sporer.