One of the constants of the Kings' lineup this season has been Anze Kopitar with Dustin Brown. With little variation, they've been linemates, through winning streaks and losing spells.
Stevens has made shrewd lineups moves in his first season as coach and this appears to be another one. He put Tyler Toffoli in place of Brown on the top line and moved Brown to the second line with Kempe and Tanner Pearson.
Change was coming after the Vancouver loss, if only for a different look, and Stevens thought it would have a psychological effect if Kopitar and Brown played on separate lines.