The Edmonton Oilers will be without winger Viktor Arvidsson on Thursday night as they host the Nashville Predators.

Arvidsson, 31, has appeared in 16 games for the Oilers this year scoring two goals and five points, but is dealing with a “minor” injury, head coach Kris Knoblauch said, adding the winger is expected to return this weekend.

“He had a maintenance day,” Knoblauch said after Wednesay’s practice. “He is 50/50 for tomorrow. It’s nothing too serious.”

The Oilers will roll with 11 forwards and seven defencemen, as Travis Dermott is expected to draw into the lineup.

Arvidsson’s first goal of the season came on Halloween night when the Oilers visited Nashville, getting on the board just 37 seconds into the game. It also marked Edmonton’s first without Connor McDavid, who had a suffered an ankle injury in the game prior.

McDavid’s back and seemingly better than before, as in his two games since returning he’s racked up two goals and seven points, raising his totals to five goals and 17 points in 13 games on the season. Thursday’s game against Nashville sees McDavid chasing the 1,000 point mark, sitting at 999 heading into the game.

He’ll undoubtedly be eager to get it, seeming almost disappointed he didn’t get it Tuesday against the New York Islanders in what would’ve been his fifth point of that game. The good news for McDavid is he’s lit up the Predators in the past, scoring 12 goals and 41 points in 23 games against them, a point-per-game mark of 1.78, the fifth-best against any team in the NHL.

Calvin Pickard will get the start for the Oilers, while the Predators projected started is Juuse Saros, according to Daily Faceoff. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. MST.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.