Saskatchewan @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2018 ) Saskatchewan 34, Montreal 29

The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The Roughriders followed up on their home-and-home sweep of the BC Lions with a thrilling 24-19 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 8 to climb above .500 after a 1-3 start and hope to stay on the winning track by notching their first road win against an East Division opponent since knocking off the Alouettes 34-29 on Sept. 30, 2018.

"The message to the players has been winning doesn't happen by accident and being prepared goes a long way," Saskatchewan coach Craig Dickenson told reporters. "It's going to be a tough hard-nosed game in Montreal and we're going to have to pack our lunch." Montreal missed a chance to gain ground on the East Division-leading Tiger-Cats following a 30-27 overtime loss to the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 8. The Alouettes had won their previous three contests to move into second place in the division but surrendered two kick-return touchdowns in a single game for the first time in franchise history and hope to overcome the loss of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who suffered a concussion on a hit that went unpenalized in the third quarter. "I think hits like that shouldn't be allowed in the game," Montreal running back Jeremiah Johnson told reporters. "That's something the refs have to most definitely take care of."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (4-3): Cody Fajardo was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after throwing for 313 yards and rushing for the go-ahead touchdown with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter despite being hobbled by an ankle injury against Hamilton. Defensive end Zach Evans has been placed on the six-game injured list after hurting his hip against the Tiger-Cats while Micah Johnson is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. Shaq Evans, who has caught 29 passes for 587 yards and a pair of touchdowns this season, is questionable after hurting his ankle during Monday's practice while the Roughriders acquired wide receiver Kenny Stafford from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for kick returner/slotback Christion Jones.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-3): Antonio Pipkin, who won the starting job in training camp, showed some rust in his first action since suffering a leg injury in the season opener as he was limited to 57 yards on 8-of-17 passing in relief of Adams. William Stanback, who rushed for 88 yards on 12 carries against Ottawa, is questionable after suffering a lower-body injury while third-year quarterback Matthew Shiltz will back up Pipkin. Montreal brought back hometown linebacker Frederic Plesius, who appeared in seven games with the Alouettes in 2017 and released special teamer Brandon Calver on Monday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stanback tops the CFL in rushing yards per carry (6.8).

2. Evans has four 100-yard receiving games this season.

3. Saskatchewan RB William Powell leads the league with seven rushing touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Alouettes 31, Roughriders 27