from Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider,

There are five forwards on this Los Angeles Kings team who average over a minute per game in both power play and shorthanded play this season: Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Dustin Brown and Tanner Pearson.

Four of the five players have earned at least 20 points this season. And then there is Brown, the fifth, who has produced lukewarm numbers since potting 18 goals in 46 games in 2012-13. Through 44 games this season, Brown, who has played a team-best 139 consecutive games, has four goals and 14 points.

“Brownie is now where it’s about winning,” Darryl Sutter said. “He accepts his role … but he’s got to perform at a high level in that role. As I said, if you want it to last for a long time, then you’ve got to play really well in that role.”

That role has been to provide hard energy – “We need him in a real strong checking role and a physical role,” Sutter said – and he has mostly done so in his all-situational play. His five-on-five possession rates are the best they’ve ever been, and 2:55 of his 16:10 of ice time has been spent on special teams. The Kings rank sixth on the power play and 10th on the penalty kill.

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