Senators 5, Capitals 2
SENATORS 5, CAPITALS 2: Milan Michalek scored twice and fellow All-Star Erik Karlsson collected a goal and two assists as Ottawa cruised past reeling Washington.
Defenseman Chris Phillips scored for the second straight game, Nick Foligno added an empty-net goal and Craig Anderson turned aside 33 shots as the Senators won their fourth straight contest. Ottawa moved into a tie atop the Northeast Division with the Boston Bruins, who were visiting the St. Louis Blues later Wednesday.
Tomas Vokoun yielded four goals on 11 shots before being pulled for the second straight contest for the Capitals, who fell for the sixth time in seven games. Washington played without captain Alex Ovechkin, who is nursing a lower-body injury.
Karlsson opened the scoring at 9:36 of the first period after wristing a shot from the outside of the right faceoff past a screened Vokoun. The tally was his 13th of the season, tying him with Florida's Jason Garrison for the NHL lead among defensemen.
Michalek doubled the advantage nearly 4 1/2 minutes later after cutting in front of the net and wristing a shot past Vokoun.
Michalek then netted his career-best 27th goal of the season just 3:37 into the second period after redirecting Karlsson's shot from the point past Vokoun. The tally snapped Michalek's previous career best, which was recorded in the 2006-07 campaign.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Defenseman John Carlson ended Anderson's bid for his second straight shutout and third in four games at 2:19 of the third period. Mathieu Perreault was credited with a goal after the puck caromed off his face later in the session. ... Karlsson's second assist gave him 47 for the season - moving him past Norm Maciver for the franchise record among defensemen.