Rather than head for a three-game trip to Florida, Tampa Bay and Atlanta with the minimum 20 healthy players, the Penguins yesterday recalled defenseman Ryan Lannon and forward Ryan Stone from their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton minor-league club.

"I think they just wanted a couple extra bodies," said Stone, who had seven goals and 19 points in 34 games with the Baby Penguins playing mostly left wing.

"Whatever it is, it's a good chance to see what it's like and, hopefully, get in a couple games."

Lannon, who had two goals, nine points and a plus-minus rating of plus-6 for Wilkes-Barre, is a defensive defenseman.

"He's a stay-at-home player, physical, tough to beat one-on-one," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said.

That makes four Ryans on the roster, along with defenseman Ryan Whitney and winger Ryan Malone.

Stone, a second-round draft pick in 2003, and Lannon, an eighth-rounder in 2002, have yet to make their NHL debuts.

"I called my parents right away," Lannon said. "You look forward to that experience at some point in your life."

Maxime Talbot, who is out with a high ankle sprain, had been practicing with the team and seemed to have some chance of returning during the road trip. However, he left shortly after practice started yesterday. Therrien said that was because of a sore back, not a setback regarding his ankle.

Starring role for Conklin

Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin, who has been strong as the fill-in for injured starter Marc-Andre Fleury, was named the NHL No. 3 star of the week.

Conklin was 3-0 last week with a shutout and a save percentage of .972.

He earned a 2-1 shootout win with 36 saves in the Winter Classic outdoor game at Buffalo, made 33 saves in a 6-2 win against Toronto and stopped 35 shots in a 3-0 win against Florida.

Overall, Conklin is 7-0 since being recalled in early December.

Too much fun in the sun?

The Penguins are 19-31-3 all time playing at Florida and Tampa Bay, including 2-8 on the road against the Panthers dating to 2001-02.

Therrien summarily dismissed any thought that the team gets distracted by warm weather, palm trees and beaches.

Veteran defenseman Darryl Sydor has been a visiting player many times in the Sunshine State and spent a season and a half with Tampa Bay. He thinks there might be a sliver of a reason that teams tend to struggle there.

"I've heard a lot about it this week, the team not doing well down there," Sydor said. "Playing there, the humidity is a factor and it is warmer. I know it does affect the [visiting] team if they're not prepared for it.

"We have a chance to turn that around, make it mind over matter."

NBA star LeBron James was in Toronto with the Cleveland Cavaliers over the weekend and was asked about fellow young star athlete Sidney Crosby: "I know he's great at what he does," James was quoted as saying on the Cavaliers' Web site. "They call him 'Sid the Kid.' He's been great for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and what he's able to do, as young as he is, is pretty good. I know they compare him to me, and I'm excited to be compared to a guy who plays the game the way he does." ... Crosby talks about his inseason and offseason workout regimens in the cover story of the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine, on newsstands Monday. Also that day, a 7-by-12-foot version of the cover shot will be on display in the windows of the NHL Powered by Reebok store in midtown New York. ... Sydor makes his debut tonight as an alternate captain for road games. "I believe and I've always believed you can still be a leader without a letter," he said, "but it is an honor and a privilege." ... Starting tonight, fans at Panthers home games will have a new snack option, a push-cart vendor selling kosher foods, including hot dogs, chicken and turkey sausages, potato knishes and soda. "Selfishly, I want to have something to eat, and it's an important community service," Rabbi Paul Plotkin, who hatched the idea, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.