Lightning players join Senators at charity dinner

Members of the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning attended a fundraising dinner and auction Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011.

In hockey, it's a faux pas to give an assist to the other team on the ice.

Off-ice, members of the Tampa Bay Lightning lent some surprise help to a dinner for the Sens Foundation Sunday alongside their Monday night opponents.

"It's a small group of guys, and in the end we all get along," said Senators assistant captain Chris Phillips, who along with his teammates was joined by Lightning centre Vincent Lecavalier and other Tampa Bay players.

The Lightning apparently just wanted to go out for dinner after arriving in Ottawa Sunday evening, but found the Senators hosting their private fundraiser at Fratelli's Restaurant.

"It wasn't expected but we have no problem with that," Phillips said. "We put some pressure on them to buck up for the charities."

The evening was a benefit for the Sens Foundation, with $20,000 raised for charities like Rogers House. CHEO, Candlelighters and the Rink of Dreams.

Attendees could bid on a fishing trip with Senators forward Jesse Winchester and a wine basket and dinner with forward Zenon Konopka, amongst other things.

"It's not the amount raised, it's all about how you do it and the heart that goes into it," said Richard Valente from Fratelli's.

Last year the big attraction at the dinner auction was supper with former Senator Mike Fisher and his wife, country music star Carrie Underwood.

The dinners have raised almost $270,000 for charity in the last seven years.

The Senators and Lightning face off Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Scotiabank Place.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Stefanie Masotti