6/10/22

By: OutOfSightSports

Twitter: @OOSSports

“Madison Square Garden: Rangers fan banned for life after ‘abhorrent assault’ of Tampa Bay Lightning fan”

In the wake of Thursday night’s Game 5, a New York Rangers fan has been banned for life from Madison Square Garden after he was spotted striking a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.

Video released on social media shows a Rangers fan punching a Lightning fan as they walked through the concourse following Tampa Bay’s 3-1 victory. During the time other people were tending to the injured fan, the assailant walked away from the scene.
According to Madison Square Garden, the Rangers fan allegedly struck another person who tried to intercede in the incident, calling it “an atrocious assault.”

“As this is now a criminal investigation, we are fully collaborating with law police. An additional punishment for the perpetrator is a lifetime ban from all MSG stadiums “According to a statement from MSG, “The Garden should be a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors, regardless of their team’s affiliation. There will be no exceptions to that rule.”

A 29-year-old Staten Island man was detained and charged with two charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment, according to several media sites. The Rangers and Lightning fans were engaged in some sort of exchange before the punch was thrown, according to authorities.

The two victims, according to Madison Square Garden, got “proper medical attention.” As of this writing, police say that the Lightning fan has been brought to the hospital where he is in stable condition; the intervening fan has declined treatment.

To this point in the best-of-seven series, the Lightning lead 3-2. Madison Square Garden would host Game 7 on Tuesday if the Rangers win Saturday.