[sureLoss]

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Asked about advice for escaping the press box, Bob Hartley shrugged.

“It’s not only how you respond being the odd man out,” said the Calgary Flames coach, “it’s how you respond staying in the lineup — that’s the most important thing. ‘Don’t be the odd man out’ — that’s my message to every guy — ‘Don’t make it easy on us.’ It’s all about being involved, being physical, playing the game.

“It’s about getting your nose dirty, jumping in. Don’t feel the water — jump in. Go all out. There’s no speed limits in the NHL. There’s no limits about being involved physically. There’s no limits about driving the net. There’s no limits (about) being the most intense player.

“That’s what we’re asking (from) everyone.”

For the record, Raymond has two hits in 22 appearances this winter.

Another left-winger, Johnny Gaudreau, has four to his credit.

“We’re in the Western Conference over here,” Hartley said. “I said it after Saturday night’s game — it’s all about performing. It’s for everyone. It’s not about veterans versus rookies or nationalities or anything. It’s about what you bring to the Calgary Flames.”

But what happens when a player does slip, when he is shoved out of the lineup?

Climbing back into the head coach’s good graces, what does that take?

“We watch practice, we see their body language,” replied Hartley. “If we feel that a player is happy to be in the stands, well, why change? Because if he’s happy to be in the stands, it’s probably because he doesn’t want to be a difference in a game.

“Or if he goes through the boards in practices, well, he might be sending us a message. Lots of time, we’re going to sit (as a coaching staff) and we’re going to say, ‘Wow, have you seen this guy at practice? Maybe he’s telling us something.’ Every day, it’s an evaluation process.

“We’re in the best league in the world and everyone has to be on their toes.”