Hurricanes and Canadiens playoff run sparks friendly rivalry between couple, their Raleigh bar

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Carolina Hurricanes' playoff run is creating excitement across the Triangle -- and a friendly rivalry for one Raleigh couple that extends from their home to their downtown bar.

Matt Coleman, owner of The Davie, and his wife, Kat Morel Coleman, are cheering for opposite teams as the Hurricanes face the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final.

Matt, a Knightdale native, is backing the Canes. Kat, who grew up in Montreal, has been a lifelong Canadiens fan.

"Typically, we like to watch the games together, but this time, since we have two floors, she scoots upstairs, and I hang out down here with the real Canes fans," Matt said.

At The Davie, that split is clear on game nights. Hurricanes fans gather downstairs, while Canadiens supporters -- including a few Montreal transplants -- have taken over the upstairs space.

"We had a few people who are Montreal supporters," Kat said. "So we took them upstairs. I don't know about (Wednesday)."

Matt opened The Davie in 2019, and the bar has grown into a go-to spot for Hurricanes fans, especially during the team's recent playoff runs.

Still, he admits the current matchup brought some mixed feelings.

"I was dreading it a little bit," he said. "They actually had our number a little bit during the regular season, so I knew they had a good team. But also, I knew one of us is going to have to sleep on the couch for a while."

Kat, now a French professor at North Carolina State University, said her loyalty to Montreal has never wavered.

"You're born saying 'Olé, Olé, Olé,' and you die saying the same thing," she said.

Despite the competing allegiances, the couple said the rivalry has stayed fun.

"I think we're always going to be even tonight," Kat said. "It's just so fun because both teams -- they're great, so I'm excited."

"It's just fun to rib back and forth," Matt added.

Once the series wraps up, the couple said they plan to put their differences aside and cheer on whichever team advances to the Stanley Cup Final.

Game 4 is Wednesday inside Centre Bell in Montreal, starting at 8 p.m.

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