Las Vegas is entertainment incarnate, and the opening game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final ended up being the best show in town Monday night.

In an absolute thriller with wire-to-wire action, the Vegas Golden Knights emerged with a 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals, putting them just three games away from winning the Cup in their inaugural season.

Here are the five most memorable moments from a back-and-forth Game 1:

A pregame show for the ages

This is the NHL that millennials want! Many expected raucous theatrics ahead of puck drop, and "America's Playground" didn't disappoint.

Lil Jon's cachet isn't as strong as it once was, but the rapper put on a show for the Golden Knights faithful outside the arena, riling up the crowd with his party-starting anthems.

Next, the elaborate pregame show inside T-Mobile Arena lasted a full five minutes and went above and beyond with a theme that mirrored HBO's "Game of Thrones."

Tickets were going for exorbitant prices, but fans got their money's worth Monday - before and during the game.

Ovechkin takes puck to the face

What do you think hurts worse - a puck to the face or a Game 1 loss after finally getting to the final in Year 13? For Alexander Ovechkin, it's a cruel dilemma that served as reality.

Ovechkin was watching the game intently from the bench when he was inadvertently drilled. Although he didn't miss a shift, the play almost added injury to insult.

Oshie's no-look pass sets up Carlson's goal

In a high-paced contest, T.J. Oshie and John Carlson teamed up for arguably the nicest goal of the game on an evening that featured a few candidates. Trailing 3-2, Carlson corralled the puck at the opposing blue line to keep his team onside, delivered a pass to Oshie, pinched, and then received a perfect no-look feed from his teammate before burying a backhand past Marc-Andre Fleury, who simply had no chance. If this is going to be Carlson's payday summer, his agent is surely saving this clip for negotiations.

Wilson destroys Marchessault with late hit

Tom Wilson's all-around game is often overlooked because of his propensity for dirty plays, and he didn't help his reputation on Monday. Wilson scored on a deflection early in the third period to give the Capitals a 4-3 lead, but moments later, the aggressive forward crushed Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault with a late hit in the open ice. It'll be interesting to see if Wilson is disciplined by the league office ahead of Game 2.

Nosek clinches the victory

For a team that's built around unsung heroes, it shouldn't be all too surprising that one of its least heralded players shone brightest in Game 1. That would be Tomas Nosek, who scored the game-winner after taking a perfectly placed cross-ice feed from Shea Theodore in the third period.

Nosek played a strong all-around Game 1 with numerous entries into the offensive zone, and was part of an excellent late showing from the fourth line that included Ryan Reaves scoring an unassisted goal to tie the game at 4-4.

And to put the cherry on top, Nosek added an empty-netter to seal the Golden Knights' victory in the final seconds.

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Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has become known for his menacing hits, and that didn't change Monday following another controversial incident.

Shortly after scoring a goal in the third period, Wilson leveled Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault with a late open-ice check that briefly sent his opponent into the concussion protocol.

Wilson, who received a two-minute minor for interference on the play, defended himself following Washington's 6-4 loss.

"You always have your reputation," he said via Greg Wyshynski of ESPN. "When you play my physical style, you’re going to have that reputation. I trust myself. I play the game hard. It’s my job to bring that energy, that physicality. Right after he (Marchessault) got up he said 'good hit.'"

Although Wilson only received a two-minute penalty for the hit, many fans and reporters speculated about potential supplementary discipline from the league. However, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was thoroughly unconcerned about his power forward's availability for the next game of the series.

Predictably, the Golden Knights didn't share Wilson and Trotz's viewpoint.

The Stanley Cup Final resumes in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

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It's time to get back to the negotiating table.

On Monday, the City of Calgary voted in favor of forming a committee that hopes to reignite discussions with the Flames regarding the construction of a new arena.

"We've sent a strong signal today that says we have a strong contingent on council that wants to have a conversation," Calgary councillor Jeff Davison told Meghan Potkins of the Calgary Herald.

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi was among the City representatives who voted to begin negotiating again.

"I'm hopeful that the restart on our side will also be a restart on their side and that we can actually have a reasonable conversation without threats and acrimony, but actually sit down and look at what is possible," Nenshi said.

Negotiations fell apart in September, but not before both the City and the Flames released their proposals for public consumption.

The Flames have played out of the Scotiabank Saddledome since 1983, an arena NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has referred to as a "grand old building" that has become antiquated by league standards, according to Dan Dormer of CBC Sports.

"At some point, I envision without a new building there will be consequences that everybody is going to have to deal with," Bettman said in September.

The Flames haven't directly threatened relocation, with the franchise stating it will remain in its current home for as long as possible. However, Flames president Ken King has also indicated there would be no threat of relocation, and that the team would simply leave.

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It's time to get back to the negotiating table.

On Monday, the City of Calgary voted in favor of forming a committee that hopes to reignite discussions with the Flames regarding the construction of a new arena.

"We've sent a strong signal today that says we have a strong contingent on council that wants to have a conversation," Calgary councillor Jeff Davison told Meghan Potkins of the Calgary Herald.

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi was among the City representatives who voted to begin negotiating again.

"I'm hopeful that the restart on our side will also be a restart on their side and that we can actually have a reasonable conversation without threats and acrimony, but actually sit down and look at what is possible," Nenshi said.

Negotiations fell apart in September, but not before both the City and the Flames released their proposals for public consumption.

The Flames have played out of the Scotiabank Saddledome since 1983, an arena NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has referred to as a "grand old building" that has become antiquated by league standards, according to Dan Dormer of CBC Sports.

"At some point, I envision without a new building there will be consequences that everybody is going to have to deal with," Bettman said in September.

The Flames haven't directly threatened relocation, with the franchise stating it will remain in its current home for as long as possible. However, Flames president Ken King has also indicated there would be no threat of relocation, and that the team would simply leave.

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LAS VEGAS (AP) The Vegas Golden Knights' incredible inaugural season isn't slowing down in the Stanley Cup Final.

Tomas Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, and the expansion Golden Knights opened an improbable Final with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves in an occasionally shaky performance, but the three-time Stanley Cup winner's new teammates carried the goalie who has so often carried them with a relentless outburst of offense.

The Eastern Conference champion Capitals hadn't given up this many goals in 29 games since March 18, but they hadn't seen anything like this charmed run by the upstart Knights.

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It took just over two periods of Game 1 for Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson to make himself the center of some controversy in the Stanley Cup Final.

With the score tied 4-4 in the third period of a hotly contested game, Wilson leveled Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, briefly sending him to the locker room.

After the officials huddled for a conversation, Wilson received a minor penalty for interference on Marchessault, while Vegas forward David Perron was assessed a minor of his own for cross-checking Alexander Ovechkin after the play.

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As the NHL prepared for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals on Monday, commissioner Gary Bettman took time to address several questions and issues surrounding the sport at a press conference. Here are five key takeaways:

Seattle expansion

Bettman reiterated that NHL expansion into Seattle won't be formally approved at next month's Board of Governors meetings. However, the commissioner noted that owners will be provided with an update on the process, and added that a formal vote could come as early as this fall.

The hope is for Seattle to join the NHL for the 2020-21 season. In order for that to happen, one major step that needs to be completed is the renovation of the 1960-built KeyArena, the future home of a potential team.

What about Quebec City?

Perhaps not all hope is lost for hockey in Quebec's capital.

When asked about the concerns of Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who chairs the NHL's executive board, that Quebec City's market would struggle to support a new team, Bettman was quick to note that expansion requires approval from three-quarters of the NHL's 31 owners, and that Jacobs holds only a single vote.

Quebec City was part of the NHL's most recent expansion process along with Las Vegas. But while Sin City received the stamp of approval, Quebec City's bid was deferred due to the slumping Canadian dollar and a desire to correct the league's geographic imbalance.

Meanwhile, could the NHL consider another southern U.S. market as its next expansion opportunity? Tilman Fertitta, the new owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has expressed interest in bringing hockey to the Texas hub.

In a media scrum following Monday's press conference, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Frank Seravalli that while the league has had discussions with Fertitta about placing a team in Houston, there's no sense that the potential ownership group will file an application in the near future.

Bettman on betting

Following the recent groundbreaking decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the federal ban on sports gambling, Bettman made it clear that the NHL wants in on the action.

"I'm not sure I buy the term 'integrity fee.' I don't worry about the integrity of our players," Bettman said. "I think, though, if you're going to allocate for yourself to run a business on our intellectual property and on the performance of our athletes, and the platform that we put on for our games, we're entitled to be involved in that."

The Vegas story

For fans of franchises like the St. Louis Blues, who haven't had a Stanley Cup victory in their 50-year history, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't won it all since 1967, it's surely frustrating to see the Golden Knights advance to the Stanley Cup Final in their very first season.

Still, Bettman views it as a feel-good story.

"The bond is real between this city and its first-ever major league professional sports team. The connection is undeniable," he said. "This is the magic of sports. Anything can happen."

So, what happens if the Golden Knights capture Lord Stanley? Could the fans actually cheer - rather than boo, as they usually do in other cities - when Bettman hands over the Cup? "That might be interesting," he quipped, before adding that the Vegas fans booed him at the event when the team was named.

Concussions

Few talking points have been bigger in the world of hockey than head injuries, as concussions, particularly to enforcers, have seen many former players suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The neurodegenerative disease was found in the brain tissue of several deceased NHL players, including Steve Montador and Bob Probert.

But there have been no new developments, according to Bettman.

"I'm not going to start another news cycle," he said. "There's nothing new on the subject."

Daly, also on hand for the press conference, added: "This is not the commissioner's view, but follows science."

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Put away your checkbooks, prospective owners. The Ottawa Senators aren't for sale.

That was the indication from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who addressed the issue as part of his "state of the game" press conference on Monday prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals.

"(Current owner) Eugene Melnyk is committed to the Senators and he's passionate about them," Bettman told reporters, per Sporting News Canada.

The question came after a report stated that former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Ottawa mayor Jim Watson both hope to see a change in team ownership.

It was a hectic 2017-18 season for Melnyk and the Senators, as the outspoken owner floated the possibility of the franchise relocating if crowds stopped turning out. He later walked back his comments, stating that it's "his privilege" to own the Senators.

Related - Look: #MelnykOut billboards appear across Ottawa

Alfredsson is the Senators' all-time leading scorer who later served as a senior advisor with the club for two seasons.

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Put away your checkbooks, prospective owners. The Ottawa Senators aren't for sale.

That was the indication from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who addressed the issue as part of his "state of the game" press conference on Monday prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals.

"(Current owner) Eugene Melnyk is committed to the Senators and he's passionate about them," Bettman told reporters, per Sporting News Canada.

The question came after a report stated that former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Ottawa mayor Jim Watson both hope to see a change in team ownership.

It was a hectic 2017-18 season for Melnyk and the Senators, as the outspoken owner floated the possibility of the franchise relocating if crowds stopped turning out. He later walked back his comments, stating that it's "his privilege" to own the Senators.

Related - Look: #MelnykOut billboards appear across Ottawa

Alfredsson is the Senators' all-time leading scorer who later served as a senior advisor with the club for two seasons.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.