The Wild returned to practice Tuesday after two days off for players, a welcome chance for bodies to heal and minds to reset after 71 NHL hockey games.

But there was no getting past the fact that those 48 hours were terrible for the Wild’s postseason prospects because while the Wild rested, the three teams directly ahead of them in the Western Conference standings went 4-0-1.

“Back to business,” veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said after an hour-long practice at TRIA Rink Tuesday morning. “(It) can’t change the way we think or play.”

Minnesota resumes play Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center with little margin for error in its quest to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season, eight points out of a wild card spot with just 11 regular-season games remaining.

After losing to St. Louis, 5-4 in overtime, on Saturday afternoon, the Wild had pulled within four points of Vegas for the eighth spot in the West, and the last of two conference wild card spots. After Golden Knights victories over Columbus and St. Louis, that was eight when the Wild returned to practice.

“I know I didn’t scoreboard-watch,” coach John Hynes said. “Now, we’re back at practice today. We’ll have a good meeting tomorrow and another practice, and we’ll get right back into play.”

The bad news is that with a game Tuesday at Nashville, Vegas could have a chance to put 10 points between them and Minnesota before the Wild drop the puck against the Sharks. The good news is they should have two of their best players back.

Center Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin each went through a complete, lively practice on Tuesday and appear on pace to play in Thursday’s 7 p.m. puck drop.

“Reading and reacting, some confrontational things, a lot of game situations,” Hynes said. “Both looked good. So we’ll see how they respond to that, and then we’ve got another day tomorrow.”

Both players have been out with lower-body injuries. Eriksson Ek, second on the team with 29 goals and 60 points, hasn’t played since March 12. Brodin, one of the team’s top veteran defensemen, was injured late in a 4-0 victory at Anaheim on March 19.

“Big part of the team, obviously,” Fleury said. “Two key guys for us. Hopefully it went well for them today. I haven’t seen them (since practice), but it’s good to have them back.”

Forward Marcus Foligno did not practice Tuesday, but Hynes said it was a maintenance day. Foligno has been playing on a lower body injury suffered Feb. 9 in a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh.

“The plan is for him to practice tomorrow,” Hynes said. “We’re just trying to manage him for the games.”

Briefly

The Wild have signed St. Cloud State defenseman Jack Peart to a three-year, entry-level contract starting next season. The Grand Rapids native was a second-round pick in the 2021 entry draft. In 108 career games with the Huskies, Peart recorded eight goals, 55 points and 113 blocked shots.

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