Extra action for Wild players

The Wild won't be in the playoffs this spring, but a number of young players currently wearing a Wild sweater are getting ready for what they hope will be a long playoff run.

The Houston Aeros -- the Wild's top minor league affiliate -- were one of the surprise teams in the American Hockey League this season. The Aeros, in second place in the Western Conference, have clinched a playoff spot.

Several players currently with the Wild will join the Aeros for the playoffs after the Wild's regular season ends Sunday. That list includes defensemen Jared Spurgeon, Maxim Noreau and Justin Falk and left wing Colton Gillies. Defenseman Marco Scandella, out because of a broken finger, is also on the Aeros' playoff roster.

"It will be exciting to go down there for the playoffs," said Spurgeon, who already has played in 50 games with the Wild this season. "It's fun to be in a playoff atmosphere. Any time you can be a part of a team that's going for a championship, it's exciting."

Spurgeon has solidified his position with the Wild going forward. Scandella was well on the way to doing the same when he was injured. The others on the list have different career arcs.

Gillies, for example, was the Wild's first-round draft pick in 2007. The previous organization's front office had Gillies on the Wild roster in 2008, and he played 45 games. Current GM Chuck Fletcher decided Gillies needed more time to develop, and so Gillies spent all of last season and most of this season in Houston.

"At first it was really difficult," Gillies said. "When I first got sent down it was really hard. But now I truly believe it was the best move for me. The coaching has been awesome down there, and I think that has really helped my development."

"I'm looking forward to it," Falk said of the playoffs. "Two years ago we went to the semifinals, the Western Conference finals. We have a good team down there, well-coached. I think we can put a pretty good run together."

All will return having benefited from playing in the NHL, whether it is for most of the season in Spurgeon's case, or for just a few games for some of the others.

"It helps, confidence-wise," Wild coach Todd Richards said. Richards, though, cautioned that the players shouldn't return to Houston overconfident. "It's great they were here and they're playing games. But sometimes you think because you're here it will be easier [in the AHL] and that can set you back."

Overconfident? No. But confident? Yes.

"I don't see any reason why we can't go all the way," Noreau said.

But also missing practice Tuesday were defenseman Marek Zidlicky (hamstring), center John Madden (lower body), winger Cal Clutterbuck (upper body) and goaltender Jose Theodore (leg).