Capitals 7, Panthers 1: Defensemen John Erskine and John Carlson scored during a four-goal outburst in the first 8:10 as host Washington defeated Florida for the sixth straight time.

Wojtek Wolski and Mike Ribeiro also scored in the first period while Alex Ovechkin had a power-play goal and two assists for the Capitals, who have scored 18 goals in three meetings with the Panthers this season. Ribeiro and Wolski also notched two assists apiece and Braden Holtby made 29 saves to improve to 8-3-0 in his 11th consecutive start.

Jacob Markstrom allowed goals by Erskine and Wolski on the first two shots he faced and was replaced by Scott Clemmensen, who yielded a pair of tallies on his first six shots. Jack Skille spoiled Holtby's shutout bid with 9:11 remaining for the Panthers, who are 2-5-1 in their last eight games

Erskine scored on a slap shot from the blue line which squeezed between Markstrom's right arm and body before Wolski collected the puck at the side of the net and surprised Markstrom with a wrap-around 1:12 later. Carlson's slap shot from above the right faceoff circle knuckled past Clemmensen at 5:38.

Ovechkin converted in the second period during a five-minute power play after Jason Chimera took a vicious hit from Florida defenseman Tyson Strachan, who also received a game misconduct. Eric Fehr, who won Tuesday's game against Boston in overtime, and Mathieu Perreault added third-period goals.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington RW Troy Brouwer returned to the lineup after missing his first game as a Capital on Tuesday because of an illness and had two assists. ... Six of Ovechkin's nine goals have come on the power play. Thursday's tally snapped an 0-for-13 drought with the man advantage for Washington, which entered the game with the No. 4 power-play unit in the NHL at 24.7 percent. ... Ribeiro has scored in three straight games, recording six points during that span.