December to remember for Brown

Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar are both having one of the best months of their careers. In 12 December games, Brown has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) while Kopitar has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists). Brown is now the team leader with 16 goals and Kopitar has moved up to No. 11 in NHL scoring, with 38 points in 35 games. Kopitar’s scoring level is someone expected, but Brown’s output is key. Three seasons ago, he had 33 goals, but dipped to 24 goals in each of the past two seasons. Now he has put himself in position for another 30-goal season, and I asked Terry Murray today what he sees in Brown’s game, when Brown is scoring, that sets him apart…

MURRAY: “It’s the line that really is playing very well. Brownie can do some things on an individual basis, as we saw last night. We saw it a couple times, just coming down the wing with his speed. When he keeps that power-forward attitude of, outside, get pucks to the net, recovering pucks, getting in on the forecheck, his game is really good. I think he falls off of it whenever it gets what I call `cute,’ trying to do too much with his 1-on-1 play, trying to beat guys inside of the dots. Everything is shut down and it’s very hard for anybody to make a play there. His outside-speed attitude really is effective, and it shows. Every time that it’s there in a game, he gets good results.”