Senators 5, Panthers 3 .

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators got contributions from all over their lineup to light up what had been one of the NHL's stingiest defences.

Milan Michalek, Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson each had a goal and an assist to lead Ottawa to a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Zack Smith and Alex Kovalev also scored to help the Senators win consecutive games for the first time this season. Brian Elliott stopped 28 shots in his sixth straight start for Ottawa (4-5-1).

"Everyone's chipping in and playing well and I think as a group, that's how we're going to have success," Fisher said. "I thought everyone did a good job tonight in all areas of the ice and that was a good feeling."

Bryan McCabe put Florida up 1-0 with a power-play goal midway through the first.

The Senators responded with five straight goals, including three in the second, before Chris Higgins got the Panthers' second goal 6:09 into the third to make it 5-2. Mike Santorelli scored with 56.2 seconds left.

Tomas Vokoun made 23 saves for Florida, which has lost three of four, including a controversial 3-1 loss in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Michalek drew Ottawa even at 1-1 with a shorthanded goal 5:20 into the second. Chris Kelly stripped the puck from Wideman and went in on a 2-on-1 with Michalek, who one-timed Kelly's pass for his fourth goal of the season.

Fisher put the Senators ahead 2-1 with his third goal at 13:18 and Smith scored his first of the season 1:31 later to make it 3-1.

Kovalev made it 4-1 with his third goal in two games 1:23 into the third. Michalek and Fisher drew assists on Alfredsson's sixth goal in five games at 3:50.

"We all know that it's a lot easier to play with the lead," Alfredsson said. "That first goal for us shorthanded was huge for us to get the momentum."

Florida had allowed 15 goals through its first seven games.

McCabe put Florida up 1-0 with his first goal of the season 10:02 in. The veteran defenceman took Wideman's pass in the top of the slot and drove a slap shot past Elliott inside the right post with Nick Foligno in the penalty box for interfering with Vokoun.

NOTES: Senators centre Jason Spezza missed his fourth game in a row because of a groin injury. Spezza, who also missed Ottawa's season opener because of a groin injury, has a goal and four assists in five games ... With a minor for hooking in the second period, Jarkko Ruutu raised his career penalty minute total to an even 1,000 ... The Senators conclude their four-game homestand Saturday night, when the Boston Bruins visit Scotiabank Place (7 p.m., CBC, Team 1200).