5 must-see moments from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final

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

Vegas sure knows how to put on a show! (C) pic.twitter.com/v2uGfgJ7r8

- NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 29, 2018

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

BONK pic.twitter.com/pbNOFadXPp

- Deadspin (@Deadspin) May 29, 2018

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

That's some slick passing on @JohnCarlson74's tying goal. pic.twitter.com/3Hk67tWYfR

- NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 29, 2018

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 bundles Jonathan Marchessault with a late hit pic.twitter.com/qAOYyipjEw

- Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) May 29, 2018

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

badda bing badda boom

Watch the #StanleyCup Final here a' https://t.co/gNYh1Fpnml pic.twitter.com/PtCJ1rHhAQ

- NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 29, 2018

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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