NHL

Devils sign enforcer Peters

PHILADELPHIA — Trying to keep pace with a trend in the Atlantic Division, the Devils have signed enforcer Andrew Peters to a two-year contract, The Post has learned.

The former Sabre was invited to Devils camp as an unrestricted free agent on a tryout basis and earned a contract with his performance in training camp.

Peters joins Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond as the Devils’ top pugilists, although there may only be room for one in most lineups, such as the one that fell 2-1 in overtime to the Flyers last night, when Peters played.

Matt Carle scored on the power play in the first on Martin Brodeur, and Devils’ prospect Matt Halischuk tied the game in the third on Ray Emery, with both goalies going the distance.

Mika Pyorala scored the winner for Philadelphia at 1:45 of overtime.

The Devils 2-0-1) lost for the first time in preseason, and the Flyers improved to 2-2-1. Devils’ defenseman Mike Mottau left the game in the first, along with defensive prospect Mark Fraser, after being decked by a right hand from Daniel Carcillo. Mottau suffered an “upper body” injury from the hit.

Carcillo is part of the Flyers’ beef brigade, notably bolstered by the addition of defenseman Chris Pronger over the summer.

“This whole division is doing that, Pittsburgh [with Mike Rupp], the Rangers signing Donald Brashear,” Peters said. “This team has a lot of skilled guys. Maybe they want to protect them. Maybe that’s a reason I’m here.

“But we’re pretty team-tough, also. We’ve got guys who can handle themselves, and everybody’s willing to stand up for themselves.”

The 29-year-old, listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, saw his activity with the Sabres fall to 28 games last season, his fifth in the NHL. He had 81 penalty minutes last season, for a total of 557 in 200 NHL games.

The Devils also trimmed their training camp roster to 32 yesterday, sending defensive hopeful Matt Corrente to Lowell, along with goalie Gerald Coleman, defenseman Tyler Eckford and forwards Patrick Davis, Nick Palmieri, Michael Swift and Alexander Vasyunov.

Defensemen Eric Gelinas and Alexander Urbom and forward Patrice Cormier were returned to junior.

mark.everson@nypost.com