Kings Fall Short in OT Against Hurricanes

Samuel Helenius and Quinton Byfield score, but Carolina wins 3-2 in overtime

Feb. 1, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The Los Angeles Kings fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime on Sunday. Samuel Helenius and Quinton Byfield scored for the Kings, but Sebastian Aho's goal early in overtime gave the Hurricanes the win. Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi made 11 saves for the Hurricanes, who have earned at least a point in eight straight games.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Kings to 3-1-1 on their recent road trip, as they continue to battle for playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes maintain their lead atop the Metropolitan Division with another tight victory.

The details

Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin scored in regulation for the Hurricanes, while Anton Forsberg made 31 saves for the Kings. Helenius and Byfield's goals came late in the third period to tie the game and force overtime, but Aho's winner 1:25 into the extra period sealed the victory for Carolina.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 2, 2026.
  • Aho scored the game-winning goal 1:25 into overtime.

The players

Sebastian Aho

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored the overtime winner.

Brandon Bussi

The 27-year-old rookie goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes who made 11 saves in the win.

Samuel Helenius

A forward for the Los Angeles Kings who scored a goal in the third period to cut the Hurricanes' lead to 2-1.

Quinton Byfield

A forward for the Los Angeles Kings who scored the game-tying goal with 3:11 left in regulation.

Anton Forsberg

The goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings who made 31 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little tired from the long road trip, but the guys battled hard to get us to overtime. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get the extra point.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Los Angeles Kings

What’s next

The Kings will host the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Despite the overtime loss, the Kings' 3-1-1 record on their recent road trip shows they can compete with the top teams in the league. However, they'll need to find a way to close out close games if they want to secure a postseason berth.