Schultz (back) will likely return to action Friday against the Red Wings, Jack Michaels of the Oilers Radio Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Schultz has been out since Oct. 27 with a back ailment, but returned to practice on Nov. 16, and took contact for the first time since suffering the injury Friday, indicating he's on the verge of making a return to game action. He won't play Wednesday against Carolina, but will likely draw back into Edmonton's lineup Friday against Detroit. Once healthy, Schultz should return to his role skating alongside Andrej Sekera on the Oilers' top pairing, a role in which he tallied 16 shots on goal, 13 blocked shots, and one assist in the first nine games of the season.