Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Ryan Malone has been cleared to return to the lineup. Click photo for larger image. More Penguins Penguins Notebook: LeClair still Penguins' property; future hazy NHL Roundup: Bruins hold on for win

There are more than four months before the playoffs start, but for the Penguins, the clock is ticking at a decibel that can no longer be ignored.

Not when a current 1-3-2 slide and an 0-3-2 slump last month has pushed them behind most of the other teams in the tight-knit Eastern Conference.

And not when they play host to Florida tonight -- one of the most downtrodden teams in the league after a six-game losing streak -- before leaving on a three-game road trip against teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.

Yesterday, the Penguins promoted defensemen Alain Nasreddine and Micki DuPont from Wilkes-Barre of the American Hockey League and demoted defenseman Noah Welch to that team.

In addition, forwards Ryan Malone (broken arm) and Michel Ouellet (shoulder) have been medically cleared to return from injuries. Malone has been out since Oct. 21.

That means the Penguins' lineup probably will have a different look from the one that dropped weekend games against New Jersey and the New York Islanders, games that coach Michel Therrien had labeled "must-win."

The only change for tonight that Therrien would divulge is that backup Jocelyn Thibault will start in goal, but he likes the idea of having 23 healthy players to choose from.

"It brings some inside competition," Therrien said. "You need that inside competition to force players to perform."

And the Penguins need to perform to avoid falling further from the playoff picture.

		Scouting report Matchup: Penguins vs. Florida Panthers, 7:38 p.m. today, Mellon Arena. TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WXDX-FM (105.9). Probable goaltenders: Jocelyn Thibault for Penguins. Alexander Auld for Panthers. Penguins: Are 0-2-1 vs. Southeast Division. ... In 20 career games vs. Florida, Thibault is 12-5-2 with 2.01 goals-against average. ... D Sergei Gonchar has 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) in 45 games vs. Panthers. Panthers: Have won past 12 meetings with Penguins. ... Olli Jokinen had 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in four games vs. Penguins last season. ... Before last night, had third-best power play in NHL at 20.2 percent. Hidden stat: Florida's six consecutive losses represent its longest winless streak since going 0-6-1 from March 19-29, 2003.

Going into last night's schedule, first-place Buffalo (42 points) and second-place Atlanta (38 points) were somewhat comfortably ahead of a group of 11 Eastern Conference teams that were bunched between 26 and 31 points. And the Penguins, with 26 points, were at the bottom of that bunch, four points and six slots out of the conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

"It's got to start [tonight]," Penguins winger Mark Recchi said. "We've got a tough road trip coming up.

"It's not early anymore. We can't afford to slide back in the pack anymore. We can only go up now. That's the way we have to look at it. That's the way we have to approach it."

A lineup shakeup might help get that point across.

"I think they're looking for maybe a bit of a spark from some guys coming up, and hopefully, I can help the team," said DuPont, 26, a right-handed shot and mobile defenseman who could get some time on the power play. He had three goals, nine assists in 23 games with the Baby Penguins. He has 18 games of NHL experience, all with Calgary between 2001 and '03.

Nasreddine, 31, has a contrasting style and could help with penalty killing. He had three goals and five assists for the Baby Penguins this season and has played in 24 NHL games, including six with the Penguins last season.

"My defensive game has been pretty good, and my [penalty-killing]. That's my bread and butter," Nasreddine said. "That's what I'm going to try to do here if I get a chance to play on the PK.

"I know they brought me up for a reason, to play the way I know I can. I've got to be strong on the PK if I get a chance to play on the PK, and defensively I've got to be strong. Otherwise, I'll be right back down where I came from."

It's likely both will play tonight against the Panthers, who are reeling.

Florida was shut out in three consecutive games before Saturday's 3-1 loss to Atlanta, but that was the Panthers' sixth loss in a row and 11th in 13 games.

"It's dead in [the locker] room and dead on the ice," forward Chris Gratton told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel after a players-only meeting after the Atlanta game. "The atmosphere is tight, and everyone is walking on eggshells."

Panthers coach and general manager Jacques Martin told reporters that while he might look at demotions or promotions, the problems will have to be solved within the organization because he has not found anything workable on the trade market.

To Therrien, Florida is dangerous.

"The Panthers are going to be desperate," he said. "Six games in a row they haven't won.

"In the meantime, I'm interested to see how we're going to react after that weekend.

We don't want to get too far behind the pack to make the playoffs."