Bright lights and vices won't tempt Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) in Toronto on Monday November 6, 2017. Veronica Henri/Postmedia Network )Veronica Henri / Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun

LAS VEGAS – Mike Babcock wasn’t going to be a nervous father, waiting up late Saturday night at the Maple Leafs hotel to see if his players made it home okay from the Vegas Strip.

“Never thought about that,” the Toronto coach said of how his team might spend their first ever day off in Sin City. “But they’re over 12 (years old). Bottom line, there’s lots of things to do in Vegas, but we’re in the middle of three games in four days. They’ll be professional. There are lots of things to do on a day off to get yourself ready physically and mentally.”

All teams coming here for the first time to meet the expansion Golden Knights have wondered what awaits on the streets, but so far no problems. The Leafs, like other teams, have players under 21 such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner who are under the minimum age in Nevada for drinking and gambling.

In an email to the Toronto Sun, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league did its homework from a security perspective.

“Las Vegas is a unique city, but not one we haven’t had experience with in the past. Still, we made it a point to include a segment of our annual security briefing with the players devoted to some of the unique aspects of the city and things the players should be wary of.

“We have not been made aware of any out of the ordinary or otherwise disturbing incidents in Vegas to this point in the season.”

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) battles for the puck in the defensive zone against Vegas Golden Knights centre William Karlsson (71) and right wing Reilly Smith (19) during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on November 6, 2017. 

They aren’t likely to find any involving the Leafs. Toronto was staying off the beaten path on this trip and were to fly home right after Sunday’s game. It’s a 12:30 p.m. local start, which translates nicely for Eastern television on New Year’s Eve and was done in part to help Las Vegas police get passenger cars out of downtown in good time to close the streets for its annual New Year’s Eve celebration.

“We’re probably going to go downtown and look around a bit (Saturday),” said Leo Komarov, a first timer here. “A lot of guys want to see (what it’s about), other guys have been there a few times.

“Players know how it is, it’s a good (road) city and I think we’ll enjoy our time tomorrow and have a good game (Sunday).”

New goalie Calvin Pickard, who was with the Knights in pre-season, was going to be a bit of a tour guide.

“It’s great. Everyone knows about The Strip, but there’s a lot more to it. It’s great weather and the building (T-Mobile Arena) is nice, too. It will be a lot of fun to play there.”

Helping to keep the Leafs’ minds on business will be their near-loss to the Knights at the ACC the first week of November. Toronto needed a shootout to salvage a win and the Knights have remained an amazing story in the NHL, 52 points to lead the Western Conference entering the weekend.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Erik Haula (56) during the shootout in NHL hockey action in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017.

“You can’t say they’re a surprise because they have good players,” said Komarov. “I think everything is new for them and they’re just enjoying the game and so they’re doing really good. It’s going to be a tough game.”

The Leafs are coming off a loss in Denver that split this road trip 1-1 thus far. After this game, a divisional showdown with Tampa Bay looms two nights later at home, so Babcock is playing up the measuring stick aspect of these next few games.

“(Vegas) are a really good team, they’ve done a really nice job, they’re outstanding at home (15-2-1) and I think they win there every night. We have a day to get refreshed and get ready to play an early game.”

After Pickard took the back-to-back start from an injured Curtis McElhinney in Denver, Frederik Andersen gets the start in net, likely against Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury.

LHornby@postmedia.com