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Defenseman Andy Greene says the Devils don't have a discipline problem.

(Tommy Gilligan/USA Todxay)

One avoidable loss doesn't mean the Devils have a discipline problem.



Even after their 2-1 defeat in Buffalo Saturday night in which the winning goal was scored after what the on-ice officials felt was a retaliatory penalty by Dainius Zubrus, the Devils have spent less time in the penalty box than any other team in the NHL. That's pretty disciplined.



"We're the least penalized team in the league. (Discipline) hasn't been (a problem)," coach Pete DeBoer said. "I don't know why (it was in Buffalo). Maybe the frustration of the game, but we've got to be better than that."



They are on most nights.



Through their first 43 games, the Devils have averaged 7.9 penalty minutes per game. That's best in the league, ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes (8.5 PIM per game).



The Rangers rank 11th (10.8 PIM per game) while the Flyers, who invade Prudential Center Tuesday night, are the most-penalized team at 16.2 PIM a night.



Against the Sabres, the Devils took six penalties totaling 15 minutes. Both of Buffalo's goals came on power plays.



"I don't think it's anything to be concerned about. Sometimes you just have those games," captain Bryce Salvador said. "We had a few more penalties than we've had, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned about."



The Sabres took five penalties, including Tyler Myers' minor for an illegal check to the head on Zubrus. The Devils' winger said he wasn't retaliating when he shived Myers into the net on his next shift, but it is easy to see why the referee thought otherwise.



"We probably gave them (the Sabres) too many opportunities," DeBoer said. "We took some offensive zone penalties we don't need to take, some retaliatory penalties we don't need to take. So when you play with fire, there are nights you're going to get burned and we got burned."



Defenseman Andy Greene said discipline remains one of the Devils' strong points, despite the loss to the NHL's worst team.

“When you give up two power play goals, it’s easy to look at it and say we weren’t disciplined,” Greene suggested. “We have to do a little better job on the PK clearing in front of the net. If we do that, maybe you don’t even think about it.”