It wasn’t exactly Joe Namath regaling reporters poolside in his swim trunks and guaranteeing his underdog AFL Jets would defeat the heavily favored NFL Colts in Super Bowl III, which they did to shock the pro football world.

But Wild coach Bruce Boudreau on Thursday boldly went where few NHL coaches would dare, guaranteeing that his middling team would reach the postseason for the seventh straight season.

“We’re going to make the playoffs,” he said. “That’s about as elaborate as I’m going to get. You want me to predict how many wins we’re going to have? Not going to happen. But we’re going to make the playoffs.”

Why so confident?

“I know our team; we’ve made it before,” he said. “We’re on the edge of things being really good rather than being very mediocre. Looking at their faces after the game the other night and knowing how upset and disappointed as they were, I’m saying this is a team that wants it.”

Boudreau initially made his guarantee during an interview with KFAN, and then doubled down after practice at TRIA Rink during his regular media session.

The Wild entered play with a two-point lead over Vancouver for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference despite being 1-4-2 since their bye week. That includes Tuesday’s ugly 5-4 home loss to Philadelphia after Minnesota blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3.

“The last two games we’re doubling the attempts on net from the other teams,” Boudreau said, also referencing Sunday’s 2-1 loss at the New York Islanders. “It’s not going in often enough, or we’re not keeping it out often enough, but that’s going to turn and we’re going to make the playoffs.”

INJURY UPDATE

Forwards Victor Rask and Matt Hendricks did not practice Thursday and neither will be available for Friday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils at Xcel Energy Center.

Hendricks collided with the Flyers’ Nolan Patrick along the boards Tuesday and suffered an upper-body injury. Rask stepped on a puck and went down awkwardly with a lower-body injury. Both are day-to-day, according to Boudreau.

The shortage of forwards had defenseman Brad Hunt practicing at right wing Thursday, although the Wild were weighing whether to recall anyone from AHL Iowa.

Meanwhile, left winger Pontus Aberg skated before practice. Boudreau said Aberg, who is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, has been ruled out against the Devils.

“Aberg skated much better today,” Boudreau said. “There’s a chance he’ll take the morning skate with us tomorrow. I don’t know how good of a chance. I haven’t talked to him or the trainers. But that’s what he wants to do.”

DEVAN DUBNYK UP

Look for goaltender Devan Dubnyk to get the call again Friday against the Devils. Last week he won his start at New Jersey and played the next day against the Islanders, the first time he has started the second game of a back-to-back set this season.

“We have to go with our best. He’s our best,” Boudreau said. “We don’t have a 16-point cushion right now. He’s got to be at his best just like the other players have to be at their best if we want to succeed, and I believe they will be.”