TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled center Matthew Peca from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Peca, 23, has appeared in nine games with the Lightning this season, recording one goal and two points to go along with two penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut on December 28 against the Montreal Canadiens earlier this season. The Petawawa, Ontario native scored his first career NHL goal on January 3 against the Winnipeg Jets at AMALIE Arena.

The 5-foot-8, 178-pound forward has also skated in 53 games with the Crunch, registering eight goals and 30 points to go along with 12 penalty minutes. Peca ranks fifth on the Crunch for assists with 22 and sixth for points. Peca has skated in 126 career AHL games, all with the Crunch over the past three seasons, notching 17 goals and 77 points.

Peca was originally drafted by the Lightning in the seventh round, 201st overall, at the 2011 NHL Draft.