The Capitals wrapped up the 2016 calendar with a convincing 6-2 win over the New Jersey Devils Saturday afternoon in Newark. The win raised the Capitals record to 21-9-5. The Caps return home to host the Ottawa Senators Sunday night at Verizon Center. Puck-drop is 7:30 PM.

Philipp Grubauer got the start in goal for the Capitals. Braden Holtby will get the second game of the back-to-back set on Sunday against the Senators.

Jakub Vrana was a healthy scratch. This was the second consecutive scratch for Vrana. Taylor Chorney was the other healthy scratch for the Capitals. The lines for the game:

#Caps lines vs Devils: 8-19-77, 90-92-14, 10-20-65, 26-83-43. Defense: 27-74, 9-2, 44-88. Scratches: 4, 13. Grubauer vs Kinkaid. #CapsDevils

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 31, 2016

QUICK NOTES

• The game quickly deteriorated in the first period following a serious injury to the Devils John Moore.
• The Capitals had 23 minutes of penalty time through the first two periods of play. 25 minutes for the game (9 penalties).
• The Capitals 4th line had another strong game.
• Justin Williams continued his hot streak with another goal and an assist.
• Andre Burakovsky continues to produce, with a beautiful assist on the Caps first goal.
• The Capitals penalty kill continues to be very strong, killing four penalties in the first period alone.
• The Capitals penalty kill would 7 of 8 total penalties called on the Caps in the first two periods.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals struck early when Brett Connolly redirected a nice center pass from Andre Burakovsky at 2:36 of the opening frame.

4th of the season for @bconnolly8 gives Caps the early lead. #CapsDevils on @csnma pic.twitter.com/4SpT7PORl7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

The Devils John Moore was injured shortly after the Capitals opening score. The injury occurred when Tom Wilson checked Moore into the boards on the forecheck. Moore would leave the ice on a stretcher.

The game’s intensity picked up following the Moore injury. Brett Connolly was drawn into a fight at the 5:17 mark of the first period. the Capitals were called for three successive penalties, all of questionable nature, following the Moore penalty.

Jay Beagle would extend the Capitals lead to 2-0 on a redirect of a Brooks Orpik shot at 19:01 of the opening frame.

Good things happen with Beagle in the slot. #CapsDevils on @csnma pic.twitter.com/J6uzwgqnev

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

The first period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Caps led in shots on goal 7-5 through one period of play. The Capitals were called for a total of five penalties following the Moore injury.

SECOND PERIOD
The penalty-fest continued in the second period. The Devils would close the gap to 2-1 on a goal by Kyle Palmieri at 6:53 of the middle frame.

As the penalties continued to rain down on the Caps, TJ Oshie would grab the two-goal lead back for the Caps with a roof-job at 11:05 of the middle frame.

Oshie’s goal… Good karma for #WorldJuniors Team America today? #CapsDevils pic.twitter.com/1pn8QcHEB7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

Alex Ovechkin would stretch the Capitals lead to 4-1 at 11:38 of the second period.

Ovi gets one closer to #Ovech1Kin! #CapsDevils on @csnma pic.twitter.com/WAMFQftCbi

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

Justin Williams would add another at 16:34 of the second period, giving the Capitals a 5-1 lead.

Beauty of a tip @JustinWilliams. #CapsDevils on @csnma pic.twitter.com/nhPXT8yIEk

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

The second period would end with the Capitals leading 5-1. The Capitals led in shots on goal 21-16 after the first two periods. The Capitals had 23 minutes of penalty time through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period settled down quite a bit, as all those involved seemed to want to wrap things up and get the heck out of town. The Devils closed the gap to 5-2 on a deflection of a long-range shot by Beau Bennett at 14:52.

But Marcus Johansson would get the goal right-back, returning the Caps lead to four goals at 6-2. The Capitals would win it, 6-2.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM NEW JERSEY

Caps fans a plenty in the Prudential Center this afternoon. #CapsDevilspic.twitter.com/KM3FIveL1K

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

Get up guys, it’s 2nd period time. #CapsDevils pic.twitter.com/70rQ5snfxe

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

Mood after 40. Third starting now. #CapsDevils #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/wDVHGLUC8M

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2016

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