Kings' Teddy Purcell rises in Patrick O'Sullivan's absence

"Good players need to play with good players," said Kings Coach Terry Murray. "That's going to give him the best opportunity to show us how it's going to fit for him."

Murray has already tried Matt Moulson and rookie Oscar Moller on the same line as Kopitar and Brown, who primarily skated with O'Sullivan last season. Purcell had a goal and two assists in 10 games for the Kings last season, but said he's looking to contribute more.

"It is a good sign, I'm doing something right," Purcell said. "They want to give me an opportunity and a look here, so I've got to take advantage of it."

The biggest adjustment to playing on the same line as Kopitar and Brown will be moving to left wing, Purcell said. He has primarily played on the right side.

"That's a little different," Purcell said. "I've just got to get [Kopitar and Brown] the puck and get open and good things will happen."

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Newly acquired defenseman Sean O'Donnell will be paired this weekend with 18-year-old rookie Drew Doughty. O'Donnell, who was traded from the Ducks to Los Angeles this week for a conditional draft pick, was initially shocked by the trade, but he has put it behind him.

"It took a day or two for it to kind of sink in and, now, I couldn't be happier," he said after practice Friday. "It's a great group of guys, and I'm wanted here. It's all you can ask for as a player, to have the team want you to make a contribution."

Murray said the addition of O'Donnell, who helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007, is invaluable.

"When you add a player who's a winner, the impact is tremendous in your locker room because you do things right, and you do it right every night and you do it right every day in practice," Murray said. "That is how you raise the bar for the team."

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Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera is scheduled to start Sunday against San Jose. The last time he played in Salt Lake City was in the 2004-05 season, when he was a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.

"I don't want to jinx myself, but I had back-to-back shutouts," said LaBarbera, who promptly knocked on the wood cabinet beside him.

LaBarbera appears to be rounding into shape for the season opener Oct. 11 in San Jose. He gave up four goals on 17 shots in his opening exhibition start Sept. 22 against Phoenix but has given up only three goals in the last 53 shots he has faced.

"After the first game, I knew it was more rust than anything," said LaBarbera, who is 15 pounds lighter this season. "I'm going to get my reps in and get my work in, and everything's starting to fall into place. This is the best I've ever felt."

dan.arritt@latimes.com