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NHL playoff game gets heated when Red Wings fan tries to set fire to large Lightning flag

 
Published May 1, 2015

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Lightning playoff game got heated Wednesday night when a rowdy Detroit Red Wings fan tried to light the home team's flag on fire as it passed over the heads of 200 people inside Amalie Arena, Tampa police said.

Lena Sinishtaj, 35, of Sterling Heights, Mich., was arrested and charged with first-degree arson.

Sinishtaj was seated in section 103, directly behind the Tampa Bay bench, when the 20-foot by 30-foot Lightning flag passed overhead, a pregame tradition meant to rile the crowd. Police said she raised a flaming lighter and tried to set the cloth ablaze, but instead left only burn marks.

"We've passed the Lighting flag in the arena for years, and we've never had any negative experiences with that," said Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett.

Spectators seated nearby reported her behavior, Wickett said, and about 7:45 p.m. Sinishtaj was arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.

She missed the rest of the game, which ended in a Tampa Bay win, 2-0. The Lightning now advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.