THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA -- Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek each had three points Wednesday as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2.

Karlsson finished with a goal and two assists to set a new franchise record with for assists by a defenceman in a season with 47.

The 21-year-old now has seven points in his last two games. His 60 points on the season give him a 20-point lead on Florida's Brian Campbell for the NHL lead in scoring by a defenceman.

Michalek added two goals and an assist, while Chris Phillips, with his fourth goal in six games, also scored for Ottawa (32-22-8). Nick Foligno, with his first goal in 19 games, scored in to an empty net.

Craig Anderson was solid facing 35 shots to pick up the win.

John Carlson and Mathieu Perreault replied for the Capitals (29-26-5). Tomas Vokoun allowed four goals on 11 shots before being replaced midway through the second period by Michal Neuvirth. He finished with 14 saves.

Ottawa jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the back of Karlsson.

The smooth-skating defenceman opened the scoring at the nine-minute mark of the first with a shot that beat Vokoun through the legs. Karlsson then fed Michalek five minutes later and he made a great move around Dennis Wideman before beating Vokoun from in close.

Michalek added his second of the night on a deflection off a Karlsson point shot on the power play early in the second. Michalek's 27th of the season set a new career-high.

Vokoun's night came to an end after Phillips made it 4-0 on the power play midway through the period.

With just one victory in their last seven starts, the Capitals are desperate to get their post-season push back on track. It didn't help that Alex Ovechkin missed the game with a lower body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Despite being in a huge hole, Washington showed some jump in the third period to cut the Ottawa lead to 4-2.

Carlson finally got the Capitals on the board with a power-play goal early in the period and Perreault made it 4-2 as the puck went off his face and past Anderson.

This was the final regular season meeting between the two teams with the Capitals winning the season series 3-1.

.Notes: Ottawa has outscored its opponents 21-4 in its last four games. ... With an assist on Karlsson's goal Jason Spezza extended his point streak (seven goals, nine assists) to seven games. ... The Senators were without C Peter Regin (shoulder, out for season), C Jesse Winchester (concussion, indefinitely). D Matt Carkner and C Zenon Konopka were a healthy scratch. ... The Capitals were without Ovechkin (lower body, day-to-day), D Tom Poti (strained groin, indefinitely), C Nicklas Backstrom (concussion, indefinitely). Defencemen John Erskine and Roman Hamrlik were a healthy scratches.