Two New York Islanders goaltenders could soon find themselves battling for playing time on the international stage.

With Frederik Andersen possibly on the shelf with an upper-body injury and therefore in danger of missing the World Cup of Hockey, the two remaining goalies on the Team Europe roster would be Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss.

Related - Report: Andersen diagnosed with upper-body injury, to be examined in Toronto

The pair split starts for the Islanders in 2015-16, with Greiss being called upon to carry the load in the playoffs after Halak went down with an injury late in the regular season.

Here's a look at how they stacked up over the course of the regular season:

Greiss' game didn't fall off in the postseason either, as he maintained a save percentage of .923 in 11 games.

Halak began last season as the starter, and told Arthur Staple of Newsday he's fully recovered from the sports hernia surgery he underwent in May.

Andersen, of course, hasn't been ruled out of the tournament, and the Maple Leafs goalie would have the inside track on the starting gig if healthy.

If not, it'll be up to Greiss and Halak to prove they deserve the crease over their teammate.

Sounds familiar.

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Call him "Fantastic Mr. Ovechkin."

A group of Russian kids thought they were playing a fun game against some mascots during an intermission of a KHL game between SKA St. Peterburg and Lada Togliatti on Friday, but it turns out they were actually on the ice with Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Judging by the still shot, Ovechkin appears to be dressed as a fox, Kuznetsov is wearing a raccoon tail, and Malkin is sporting cat-claw gloves.

The trio are in Russia training for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

- with h/t to Russian Machine Never Breaks

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Raffi Torres believes he can make a positive contribution to an NHL team.

The oft-suspended winger, who will attend Carolina Hurricanes training camp on a professional tryout offer, hears the people who say he doesn't deserve another shot at cracking an opening-night roster - but that won't stop him from taking one last crack at extending his professional hockey career.

"Obviously I’m very grateful to get this opportunity," Torres told Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer on Friday. "I realize it’s probably my last shot, with where I am in my career. I’m grateful, I’m thankful, and I’m excited.

"People are going to say what they’re going to say. I have not helped myself. You sleep in the bed you make. I accept that. I believe I had paid my dues and I have dealt with what I had to deal with. I think I can change the way I play."

During a preseason game last year, Torres struck Jakob Silfverberg with a blindside hit to the head that earned him a 41-game suspension and essentially kept him off the ice for the entirety of the 2015-16 season.

It was the latest incident on Torres' lengthy rap sheet, and while he's unlikely to completely reinvent his game, he believes he can help the Hurricanes, or another team should Carolina decide not to sign him.

"Can I score 25 goals? Probably not," Torres said. "But I could come in and give them a player with some grit, a sandpaper guy. I can get in on the forecheck and instead of putting the guy in the third row, get the puck back and then get to the net. I can play that simple game.

"I just have to take a step backward. The speed of the game is higher than ever and the players stronger and faster. Obviously I can’t run around out there like I used to. I need to focus on what I know I can still do."

Another issue for Torres is an ACL injury that sidelined him for all of the 2014-15 season, but he says he's finally recovered and will enter training camp with a clean bill of health.

Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said this week that Torres has "served his time" and the club is willing to take a look at what he might have to offer.

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Sean Monahan won't play for North America at the World Cup of Hockey, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving announced Friday.

Monahan suffered a back strain during preseason training, but the team doesn't believe it's a long-term issue and he's expected to be a full participant in training camp, Treliving wrote in a statement.

Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck has been named to North America's World Cup roster in Monahan's absence.

Monahan, who signed a big contract extension with the Flames earlier in August, says he needs rest in order to ensure full health by the start of the NHL regular season.

"I don’t want to hop into a practice at full speed right now," he said. "I want to take some time and make sure I’m good and make sure I don’t have anything nagging me during the season. It’s more precautionary than anything. I’m going to see our team trainers and doctors in the next couple of days to get everything sorted out. ...

"I’m pretty bummed out I don’t get to experience (the tournament), but at the same time my commitment is to the Flames. That’s the bigger picture right now. I just want to be ready for the season at 100 percent."

Trocheck, who won a gold medal with USA at the 2013 World Junior Championships, recorded 25 goals and 28 assists in 76 games for the Panthers last season.

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Ben Bishop thought he was heading north of the border.

The Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender and his representatives were in the process of working out a contract extension with the Calgary Flames at the NHL draft, he told told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.

That was after the Flames - then seeking an upgrade in net - received permission from the Lightning to speak to Bishop, who's entering the final year of his current deal.

Calgary ultimately decided to trade for Brian Elliott, but Bishop at least appeared to have started wrapping his mind around an imminent trade.

"It looked like for a little bit it was going to happen," Bishop told Smith." At kind of the last minute (the Flames) went out and got Elliott. It was close, but there was never ... It wasn't that close, obviously."

Bishop added, "It was a tough time. I went to Vegas for the (NHL) Awards when I found out there was a possibility I might be traded. Going to the awards and in the back of your mind worried about it. It was definitely an emotional week. In the end it didn't end up happening."

Bishop, 29, is set to carry a $5.95-million cap hit in 2016-17, and will almost certainly command a raise on his next deal. The Lightning, meanwhile, signed Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year, $13.5-million extension that will kick in at the beginning of next season.

Considering how well the young Russian played while filling in for an injured Bishop during the Eastern Conference finals, it's not much of a leap to think the Lightning would at least consider dealing Bishop, especially with an expansion draft on the horizon.

For the time being, however, Bishop's focus remains on Tampa Bay.

"I have a job in Tampa Bay, it's still my job. That's all I'm focusing on. If something happens, it happens."

First, Bishop will suit up for USA at the World Cup of Hockey.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing their goalie home.

Frederik Andersen was injured in a collision Friday with one of his defensemen while playing for Denmark during an Olympic qualifier in Minsk, Belarus, and is reportedly listed as having sustained an upper-body injury, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Maple Leafs will fly Andersen to Toronto and have him looked at by doctors, and the club isn't sure of the severity of the injury, Friedman adds.

Here's the collision, which occurred against Slovenia:

Andersen is one of three goaltenders - along with Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss - on Team Europe for the upcoming World Cup, and the squad is set to convene in Montreal and Quebec City for training camp Sunday. His injury puts his tournament status in question.

The 26-year-old was acquired by Toronto over the summer and signed to a lucrative five-year, $25-million contract extension to be the club's undisputed No. 1 goalie. The Maple Leafs will no doubt prioritize his health and their upcoming season over the World Cup, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.

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Team Canada has added Anaheim Ducks winger Corey Perry to its World Cup roster.

Perry replaces Los Angeles Kings winger Jeff Carter, who will miss the tournament with a reported "week-to-week" lower-body injury, according to Kings Insider's Jon Rosen.

Most recently, Perry was part of the Canadian squad at the 2016 World Championship. He recorded nine points in 10 games en route to the gold.

Perry has enjoyed success on the international stage, with four gold medals to his name, including two Olympic titles. He had one assist in six games in Sochi in 2014.

The 31-year-old has scored 30 or more goals in each of his last three NHL seasons. He had 34 in 2015-16, and added 28 assists, finishing second on the Ducks in scoring.

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Boston Bruins center David Krejci won't play in the upcoming World Cup, reports TV NOVA Sport's Roman Jedlicka.

Krejci, 30, is recovering from offseason hip surgery, and the World Cup's schedule is likely too soon for his return to game action.

It's a tough blow for a Czech team short on offense, heading into its tournament-opener against Russia on Sept. 8.

Team captain Tomas Plekanec could now become the team's top center.

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The Canadians may need a replacement.

Los Angeles Kings and Team Canada forward Jeff Carter may be hurting ahead of the World Cup, reports Fox Sports and Kings Insider's Jon Rosen.

Earlier on Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman tweeted that there is "some question about Carter's status for (the) upcoming World Cup," adding that players are scheduled to report Sunday, so "clarity should come by then."

Carter had an impressive 2014 Olympics in Sochi, scoring three goals and adding two assists in six games, playing alongside Sidney Crosby. Canada dominated the competition and won gold.

The 31-year-old had 24 goals and 38 assists for the Kings last season.

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