Prior to a highly anticipated game 7 between the Red Wings and Lightning, a Red Wings fan tried to ignite a Tampa Bay flag using a lighter during pregame festivities.
Lena Sinishtaj, a 35-year-old Red Wings fan from Sterling Heights, MI, was arrested on first degree charges of arson shortly after the game began. During the pre-game festivities in which a Lightning flag was held over the heads of many fans, Sinishtaj held a lighter up and set fire to the flag.
Word has spread quickly after the Tampa Bay Tribune released the story and details this morning.
According to a report by the Tribune, “about 200 people in Section 130 were under the 20-by-30-foot flag during a pregame show when Sinishtaj held a lit lighter to it, authorities said. The fire caused a small burn to the flag, authorities said.”
Sinishtaj was arrested shortly after the game began, around 7:45, by Tampa Police.
“Sinishtaj made several posts on her Twitter account about her trip to Tampa. Included were posts about staying at the same downtown hotel as the Red Wings and getting a jersey signed by Detroit player Danny DeKeyser. There is also a purchase receipt for tickets to the game in Section 130, Row K, from a secondary online ticket merchant,” the Tribune added.
“Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett said Wednesday’s incident was not representative of typical visiting fan behavior, although the team has taken steps to limit the number of out-of-town fans in the building during the playoffs. For the postseason, the Lightning are limiting ticket sales to buyers with Florida ZIP codes to ‘preserve a hometown environment for our fans,’ Wickett said.”
