TORONTO -- The Washington Capitals were admittedly a little tired.

They were playing their second game in as many nights Saturday. It also was their seventh game in 11 days.

But spurred by two power play goals in the second period, they extended their winning streak to five games with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Capitals' first power play came at 11:08 of the second period by left winger Marcus Johansson ended a 2-2 tie and gave them a lift.

"I thought we were a little bit slow," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "Once we scored the power play goal, you could see us get some life on the bench, it gave us some energy. Overall I know the guys were a little bit tired."

Right winger Justin Williams scored the second power play goal at 13:26 to close out the scoring.

"I guess the way I look at it is that you can't give up four in the National Hockey League and win, it's just impossible," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "You have to find a way to win games. It didn't work in that area tonight. We have to find a way to bounce back, not lose energy and get back playing."

Left winger Jason Chimera added a goal and an assist and right winger Tom Wilson also scored a goal for the Capitals (17-5-1).

Centers Peter Holland and Leo Komarov scored for Toronto. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf had two assists.

"We dug too deep of a hole," Phaneuf said. "And when you give opportunities to a team that's got that much firepower they'll make you pay, and that's what happened tonight."

Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped 19 shots.

Bernier allowed two goals on the first five shots –although the second one was not his fault – that he faced. Babcock admitted that he thought about replacing Bernier after the second period but stayed with him for what turned out to be a goalless third period.

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 31 saves.

The Maple Leafs came close to scoring in the third period when they twice hit the cross bar on a power play after Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin took a cross-checking penalty at 10:08.

"We were fortunate," Trotz said. "They could have scored on that power play in the third period and we would have been scrambling at the end."

Chimera opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the season, unassisted at 3:43 of the first period. After Toronto missed a chance, Chimera skated down the left wing and found the top right corner with a wrist shot from the faceoff circle.

Holland tied it at 6:13 with his fourth of the season, converting a rebound after Phaneuf put the puck on goal from the corner.

Wilson scored his first goal of the season at 4:06 of the second period, taking advantage of a giveaway in front of the net by Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly.

The Maple Leafs tied the game 2-2 on a power play at 6:26 of the second when Komarov tipped in a shot from the point by Phaneuf. Komarov's eighth goal of the season came nine seconds after Capitals defenseman John Carlson was assessed an interference penalty.

Johansson scored his fifth goal of the season on a deflection 22 seconds after Toronto center Nazem Kadri picked up a high-sticking penalty.

"We've just got to stick with it and we did," Johansson said. "I think we stepped up a little bit in the second period and (the Leafs) got a few penalties, and the power play was good tonight again. That kind of got us the game back a little bit and from there we were pretty strong."

The Capitals took a 4-2 lead with another power-play goal when Williams notched his seventh goal of the season on a shot from the right faceoff circle with Phaneuf serving an interference penalty.

"We just weren't good enough consistently for 60 minutes," Phaneuf said. "I don't think much more has to be said. I thought we were in control of it, we seemed to have a decent start after they scored first. We responded really well and then we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot by giving them some momentum on the power play and we couldn't claw our way back."

NOTES: Toronto G James Reimer (leg) missed the game after being injured during practice on Tuesday and G Jonathan Bernier started for the first time since Nov. 15. Reimer played in 15 of Toronto's first 22 games this season. ... The Maple Leafs recalled G Garret Sparks from the Toronto Marlies on Saturday and assigned D Scott Harrington to the American Hockey League team. Sparks has a1.90 goals-against average in 11 games with the Marlies this season. ... Capitals G Braden Holtby started Saturday, the first time this season that he has played both ends of back-to-back games. Holtby made 32 saves on Friday in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington. ... The Maple Leafs play their next game on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals' next game is Thursday when they visit the Montreal Canadiens.