Teddy Purcell’s time with the Kings this season has been an up-and-down experience, and now it seems to be trending upward again. Terry Murray said today that he expects Purcell to play right wing on the first line Saturday against Philadelphia. That’s where Purcell started out, after the Kings recalled him from Manchester in the middle of the month, but then Purcell got dropped down to fourth-line center duty. Purcell’s last two games, in particular, have been strong, and now he will get another chance up top. Purcell has one goal and four assists in 10 games this season. Here’s what Murray said today…

MURRAY: “I liked what I saw in Purcell. We all know he’s got skill and good vision, and we saw that on the power play he has good hands. But we also see some of that dig-in that is required to play in the NHL. He’s doing that on a regular basis. We did talk about it. We talked about how this is how he needs to play in the NHL, not just with the L.A. Kings. (He was told,) `This is how you need to play in this league. You have to make the decision, if you’re willing to pay the price to have a future in the league.’ He’s learning that part of it. He’s much more involved. He’s getting pucks in and going back and trying to forecheck. He’s going to the net and looking for good things to happen. I’d like to move him up on that (first) line.”