Montreal @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2017 ) Calgary 23, Montreal 30

The Calgary Stampeders look to avenge their only loss of the season when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The Stampeders have reeled off nine straight victories, including a 15-9 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 14, since dropping a 30-23 decision to the Alouettes on July 14 and hope to exact a measure of revenge by extending their home winning streak to 17 games.

Calgary became the first team in the CFL to clinch a playoff spot with the win over the Roughriders and aim to take another step toward its fourth West Division title in the last five years. Montreal is quickly fading out of the playoff picture in the East Division following a 33-19 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. The Alouettes have dropped their past six games, including their last two contests after firing coach Jacques Chapdelaine and defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe on Sept. 13, and hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive by shocking the Stampeders for the third straight time. "We still have five more games and the East Division (stinks)," Montreal running back Tyrell Sutton told reporters. "The odds aren't good but we put ourselves in this position and we have to sleep in our own bed."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-10): Darian Durant continued to struggle with his consistency as he threw for 231 yards and three interceptions to give him a league-high 14 picks on the season. Slotback Nik Lewis moved past Terry Vaughn (13,746) for fifth place on the CFL's all-time receiving yards list with 13,748 before hurting his leg and will miss Friday's clash as will offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye, who is sidelined with a hand injury. Sutton rushed for a 105 yards and a touchdown to go along with 42 receiving yards but it wasn't enough as Montreal was held to fewer than 20 points for the fourth consecutive contest.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (11-1-1): Jerome Messam continued to pound opposing defences as he rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries despite being hampered by a sore neck in the win against Saskatchewan. Defensive end Charleston Hughes registered two sacks to move past Mike Walker (95.5) for fifth place on the league's all-time list with 96 while Ja'Gared Davis recorded three sacks to give him seven in his last five games. Calgary wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, who has hauled in 37 passes for 595 yards and four touchdowns in 2017, is likely to return after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Calgary has won 15 straight home games against East Division opponents.

2. Montreal is 0-6 on the road in 2017.

3. Messam leads the CFL in rushing yards (897) and rushing touchdowns (nine).

PREDICTION: Stampeders 31, Alouettes 13