RALEIGH, N.C. — The Kings erased a late two-goal deficit but couldn’t complete their comeback in a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

Sebastian Aho scored early in overtime and Brandon Bussi made 11 saves to continue his dominant rookie season for Carolina, while Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin also scored for the Hurricanes, who have earned at least a point in eight straight games (6-0-2). Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists, including one on Aho’s winner.

Samuel Helenius and Quinton Byfield scored in the final seven minutes of regulation for the Kings (23-17-14), who were in danger of being shut out for the first time this season. Anton Forsberg made 31 saves as the Kings wrapped up their road trip with a 3-1-1 record with one game (last Monday at Columbus) postponed due to severe winter weather. They have collected at least one point in eight of their past nine games.

“It wasn’t maybe pretty the whole time, but we were there to fight,” Kings coach Jim Hiller told NHL.com. “We fought for every inch, they fought for every inch. Pretty good hockey in the end.”

A winter storm dumped snow all around North Carolina but Raleigh was mostly spared, which made it easier for about 14,000 fans to make it to the arena for the afternoon start.

A day after squandering a three-goal lead in a 4-3 overtime loss at Washington, Aho made sure the Hurricanes didn’t blow a 2-0 lead against the Kings. He beat Forsberg 1:25 into the overtime period after the Kings’ goaltender had made two tough saves on Seth Jarvis. Carolina had the only three shots on goal during overtime.

Bussi, a 27-year-old rookie claimed off waivers four days before the season started, continues to be a revelation. He has won 21 of his 25 starts (21-3-1) to help the Hurricanes (34-15-6) to first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Staal tipped in Andrei Svechnikov’s pass for his third power-play goal of the season at 6:25 of the first period. Gostisbehere, who has six points in three games since returning from injury, also assisted on the goal, as Staal matched last year’s scoring output with his 13th goal but in 23 fewer games.

There was an eight-minute stretch in the second period when neither team took a shot on goal. The Kings only had eight shots after two periods – four in each.

“I think we did a great job of slowing down what they’re good at,” Bussi told NHL.com. “They were a little opportunistic there in the third, but just overall, a great game for us. I think the team made my job pretty easy tonight.”

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty dove into the crease to deny Seth Jarvis’ backhand from in front at 18:34 of the second period, keeping it a one-goal game.

“It would have been more fun with the win and probably creating more opportunities in their zone,” Doughty told NHL.com. “Say what you want about how they dominated us, but the boys played so hard tonight. We came back in the third, got a huge point. It’s the last game of a long trip. Obviously we want to have a win, but the effort was there.”

Nikishin put the Hurricanes up 2-0 with 7:03 to play in the third period on a shot from high in the slot.

Helenius responded 24 seconds later, making the Hurricanes pay for a turnover. He took a cross-ice pass from Jeff Malott and scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.

Then Byfield, who posted the overtime winner Saturday at Philadelphia, scored with 3:11 left in regulation. He finished a beautiful centering pass from Adrian Kempe, who had curled behind the net, tapping the puck past the right skate of Bussi to tie the score at 2-2. Kempe extended his point streak to seven games (five goals, four assists).

Jarvis dropped a backhand pass to Aho, who skated into the offensive zone and beat Forsberg with a wrist shot that redirected off of Kempe’s stick and over the goalie’s right pad from the high slot.

Carolina finished 1 for 4 on power plays, while the Hurricanes killed off both of the Kings’ man advantages.

INJURY UPDATE

Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson left 32 seconds into the first period with an upper-body injury after being hit into the boards by Carolina forward Jordan Martinook. He returned briefly in the first before leaving again.

UP NEXT

The Kings host Seattle on Wednesday at 7 p.m.