Dustin Brown had a goal and an assist in the Kings' 6-3 victory against the Sharks on Thursday. Brown had a disappointing 2013-14 campaign and didn't record a point in the first three games of the first round. However, with San Jose just one win away from sweeping Los Angeles, Brown managed to step up. In addition to recording two points, he also delivered a game-high 10 hits.

Dustin Brown will skate with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik for the start of Game 4. "Hopefully he gives us a little size and power," coach Darryl Sutter said. "That line, I think, when we play against Thornton, we've had trouble with the size of Burns and Thornton, quite honest, and I guess to answer it best, is when we talk to the players and coaches about very much staying in seven defensemen and 11 forwards, so we need guys moving around." Brown doesn't have a point in the series yet, so perhaps the move will help spark some offense from him.

The Los Angeles Kings were uncharacteristically sloppy in Thursday's 6-3 loss to San Jose in Game 1 of the first round. "Sloppy play, turnovers, bad (line) changes, odd-man rushes," Kings captain Dustin Brown said. "We gave up more odd-man rushes in the first period than we've had in the last ..." A reporter at that point offered month as the answer and Brown agreed. The Kings got to the playoffs by being one of the best defensive teams in the league and they aren't likely to win high-scoring games against a team like San Jose.

Dustin Brown shrugged off the Los Angeles Kings clinching the playoffs for the fifth straight campaign. "With the evolution of this team, maybe four or five years ago, this was a big deal," Brown said. "Now, it's just part of the process. It's good to get it out of the way and get our game going. There's nothing to celebrate about making the playoffs. It's not a goal, it's an expectation." The Kings have a team capable of going far in the playoffs, but they'll have a tough time off the bat against their probable first round opponents, the San Jose Sharks.

Four of the Kings' last five games have been won by one goal. They beat Washington in a shootout at home last week and swept their three-game trip by one goal each, winning the second one, at Washington, again in a shootout. It's an admirable asset to have in the stretch run, gearing up for the playoffs and possessing the ability to perform in tight situations. "I think we're comfortable in those types of games," Kings captain Dustin Brown said after Thursday's 3-2 win at Pittsburgh in regulation. "Couple of games, blew [the] lead. It's about just grinding it out. It's getting closer to playoffs. You're never going to have . very seldom are you going to have an easy game." The Kings have won eight straight on the road, tying a franchise record, and will have a shot at nine in a row Thursday at San Jose. They first won eight consecutive road games from Dec. 18, 1974 to Jan. 16, 1975. Overall, the Kings have lost just three times in their last 16 games, a stretch going back to Feb. 6. In that span, they had an eight-game winning

Dustin Brown posted a goal and an assist in the Kings' 5-4 shootout victory over the Capitals on Tuesday night. Brown has nine points in 12 games since the Olympic break, which accounts for one of the burly winger's best stretches of the season. Brown has 14 goals and 11 assists this year through 70 games.

Dustin Brown returned to action on Monday March 24.

Dustin Brown (chest contusion) is expected to participate in practice on Monday according to coach Darryl Sutter. Brown suffered the injury on Saturday and he will likely be a game-time decision on Monday when the Kings take on the Flyers. He has 12 goals and 22 points this season which has to frustrate him and his fantasy owners. Stay tuned.

Updating an item posted only minutes ago, Dustin Brown is on a plane bound for Philadelphia. We have learned he sustained a chest contusion in Saturday's game and will be looked at by doctors in Phildelphia Monday to see if he can play against the Flyers. Brown's fortunes are improving.

Dustin Brown did not travel with his teammates to Philadelphia due to an upper-body injury he sustained in Saturday's game after colliding with the Panthers' Dylan Olsen. He remained in Los Angeles to have his upper-body injury re-evaluated on Sunday and is at best questionable for the Kings' game against the Flyers on Monday. There is a possibility, however, that if Brown checks out OK he could jump on a plane and participate in the Kings' three-game road trip. Stay tuned for further updates.