NEWARK, N.J. _ The Devils couldn't complain they didn't get the calls, because they had nine power plays and not only could they not convert on any, they could not generate any dangerous chances or momentum.
But they were upset they didn't get this call in a 6-2 loss to the Capitals on Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center, the most goals the Devils have allowed this season.
The Capitals' Tom Wilson went unpenalized after driving defenseman John Moore hard into the backboards at 3:10 of the first period. Moore, who lay momentarily motionless before moving all four limbs, was taken off the ice on a stretcher and coach John Hynes said he was evaluated and released from a local hospital.
"It's a vicious hit on a guy with his back turned," Devils defenseman Jon Merrill said. "It's got to be called."
"I didn't like it," added left wing Luke Gazdic, who fought Wilson at 19:23 of the second period, the first time the two heavyweights were on the ice at the same time. "When you see the numbers, that's where we're taught to pull up and maybe rub the player out. But don't finish the check if you see numbers. It's not like I was waiting for the right moment (to fight), I was waiting for the first moment."
In all, it was a disappointing end to 2016 for the Devils (14-16-7), who could not build off Thursday night's 2-1 shootout win at Washington as they had just seven shots on their 0-for-9 power play. Keith Kinkaid, who made 43 saves in the opener of the home-and-home series, stopped 20 shots on Saturday as three of the Capitals goals came on goalmouth deflections.
Plus, Alex Ovechkin scored on a sharp angle from the left as Matt Niskanen's blast from the right point deflected directly to him off the backboards and then his shot banked in off Kinkaid's skate at 11:38 of the second period to make it 4-1 as the Capitals (21-9-5) broke the game open with goals 33 seconds apart. The Devils have now allowed five or more goals in seven of their last 18 games.
Philipp Grubauer stopped 21 shots for the Capitals.
"I think this is a game where they got the bounces, everything ended up on their stick," said Kinkaid, making back to back starts for the first time this season. "I don't think we played bad by any means. They wanted revenge and, essentially, they got it."
Kinkaid was closest to Moore as Moore had his head violently whiplashed into the glass. He frantically waved for the medical staff.
"You see a blank stare in his eye, you know something is not right," Kinkaid said.
Captain Andy Greene remained close to Moore as he lay on the ice and said Moore was talking to the medical staff.
"I can't repeat what Johnny was saying," Greene said. "He seemed all right."
Hynes said while he wouldn't "necessarily say it was a dirty play," he did think a penalty should have been called. Hynes said the referees, Marc Joannette and Justin St. Pierrie, explained that since Moore "didn't get launched into the glass, it wasn't a penalty."
"First off, it's probably one of the worst things in hockey to see a guy go down like that," Wilson said. "But I'm going in on the forecheck, his back is to me so I tried to let up a little bit _ I wasn't trying to finish my check _ and kind of rubbed him out. I don't know if he couldn't get his hands up to protect himself but, obviously, it's not my intent."
Kyle Palmieri, with the teams skating three on three, was able to cut the Capitals' lead to 2-1 at 6:53 of the second period. Beau Bennett, deflecting in Ben Lovejoy's shot, had the other Devils' goal to make it 5-2 at 14:52 of the third period.
