Matthew Peca calm despite making his NHL debut

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 29, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – Matthew Peca just came off the ice following his first shift with the Lightning.

Just over 24 hours after being called up from Syracuse of the American Hockey League, Peca had just made his NHL debut.

The 23-year-old former seventh-round draft pick, however, said it felt like any other hockey shift he’s taken in his career.

“Honestly, it didn’t hit me until after my first shift when a couple of (the trainers) came up to and said “Congrats, you got it out of the way’,” Peca said. “I hadn’t even thought about it that way. I was kind of more excited than nervous.”

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Peca finished his debut against Montreal with 13:03 of ice time with one shot on goal, three shot attempts, two hits and won 6-of-12 faceoffs, all at even strength.

“It’s fun watching these guys play their first game,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “He got stronger as the game went on. He’s got speed and when he’s skating he can be really effective. He was probably a little bit in awe on his first couple of shifts, but when he got his legs moving I thought he did a really good job for us. He helped.”

With the injury to Brayden Point, Peca figures to get a bit of an expanded role.

But he was happy – even if he didn’t really show it – to get his debut behind him.

“I tried to be (calm), and it may have looked like that on the outside,” Peca said. “But you have to control it.”

Video: Peca discusses his NHL debut the day after

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