The defenseman was injured blocking a shot in a 2-1 shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. He finished the game with two shots, six hits and four blocks in a game-high 31:21 of ice time.
In 16 games this season, Nurse is tied for fifth among defensemen with 11 assists, is third in the NHL in hits (66), and fifth in average ice time per game (26:06).
"A guy that is that important to this team and plays that many minutes in key situations, not one guy is going to be able to step in and fill that void, so it's going to be on all of us to take on a little bit extra," Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie said Friday. "We're going to miss lots of the things that he does. He's physical, he drives the play, he gets the puck moving the other way quick and shuts things down, so it's going to be really important for us as a D core to be extra mindful to be physical and try to push the game a little bit."
Defenseman Slater Koekkoek will be out 3-4 weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury in the first period on Thursday. He returned briefly for the start of the second period but left shortly after for the remainder of the game. Koekkoek has one assist in 11 games this season.
Goalie Mike Smith was also placed on long-term injured reserve and is week to week.
Smith started the first three games this season for the Oilers before sustaining a lower-body injury in a 6-5 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 19. He traveled with the team on their recent five-game road trip before returning to Edmonton to be reevaluated.
As a result of the injuries, the Oilers recalled defensemen
Philip Broberg
and
William Lagesson
from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Friday.
Broberg, who was selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, has 10 assists in 13 AHL games this season. Lagesson has two assists in 11 AHL games.
The Oilers (12-4-0) next play the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
"Young Broberg will come in and we'll see where he's at," Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said. "He's played very well down in the American League. Kris Russell is ready to come back from a small injury, so we've got people that just have to step up and take the extra minutes that are available.
"If Kris Russell's ready to play, probably one (of Broberg or Lagesson will play). We'll decide that in the morning."
Tippett said forward Derek Ryan, who did not play against Winnipeg because of concussion-like symptoms, is nearing a return.
Edmonton begins a three-game road trip at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
"He skated before the guys today so he's not a player tomorrow, but he'll be on the trip with us, I think, for sure," Tippett said.
NHL.com staff writer Tim Campbell contributed to this report
