Sportsnet.ca — The Edmonton Oilers will head home Thursday night after their game against Nashville, but defenceman Sheldon Souray got a head start on the travel plans.

Souray, who headed back to Edmonton after Wednesday night’s win in St. Louis, won’t be in the lineup against the Predators due to his recurring shoulder injury. Souray has been having chronic pain and it’s getting worse.

“It’s a serious issue and we’ll have to manage it,” head coach Craig MacTavish said, adding they would have to find a balance between the benefits of Souray continuing to play and the risk of him worsening the injury.

He will be re-examined on Thursday and Souray is listed as day-to-day. The roster spot will be taken by Dick Tarnstrom.

Souray aside, there is some better injury news revolving around Ales Hemsky. The forward skated today and will skate again tomorrow in Edmonton. He will then take the morning skate on Saturday to see if he’ll be ready to play against the New York Rangers. Hemsky’s been out since a knee-on-knee collision during a game against Chicago on Dec. 23, 2007.

One other injury update Matt Greene, who fractured his left fibula and tore ligaments in his left ankle, will be back skating in a week or so and might return to the lineup before the All-Star break.

Greene was injured Oct. 30 against Detroit.

As the Oilers wrap up this four game road trip they will do so with Mathieu Garon playing in back-to-back games. It also appears Sam Gagner will be a healthy scratch for the second-straight game.

With a win against the Predators the Oilers would finish the road trip at 2-1-1.