Montreal @ Hamilton preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2017 ) Hamilton 43, Montreal 16

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to close out the season on a winning note when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The Tiger-Cats will miss the playoffs for the first time in five years despite going 5-4 over the second half of the season as an 0-8 start was too big a hole to claw out of, but hope to continue their stellar play since June Jones was appointed coach Aug. 24 by sweeping the season series with the Alouettes following a 43-16 win in Week 18.

"It doesn't matter who we're playing, when we're playing and what we're playing for we're just trying to win," Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli told reporters. "That's just who we are and that's our identity and personality." Montreal has failed to make the postseason for the third straight year and hopes to end one of the most tumultuous chapters in the club's history with a consolation victory. The Alouettes have dropped 10 consecutive games for the first time following a 37-12 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and aim to salvage some pride in their season finale after being outscored 181-63 over their last four contests. Montreal is 0-6 since coach Jacques Chapdelaine was fired and is in jeopardy of setting a club record for the most losses during an 18-game schedule.

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

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-14): Slotback Nik Lewis, who set a CFL record for the most career receptions by surpassing Geroy Simon (1,029) on Aug. 24, caught three passes for 30 yards against Saskatchewan in what was likely his final CFL game. "I'm not stepping away because I can't do it anymore," Lewis told reporters. "If a new head coach comes in and really wants me to play then I'll take that into consideration but I doubt that's going to happen." Rookie quarterback Matt Shiltz threw for 47 yards and a touchdown after Darian Durant left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and will make his first CFL start Friday.

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (5-12): Masoli continued his stellar play down the stretch as he completed 32-of-46 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns but it wasn't enough as Hamilton gave up a score with 31 seconds left in regulation to fall 41-36 to the Ottawa Redblacks. Brandon Banks hauled in 13 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns against the Redblacks to register his fifth straight 100-yard receiving game. Rookie wide receiver Jalen Saunders caught six passes for 96 yards to go over 1,000 on the season as did Luke Tasker, who had 12 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown to surpass 1,000 for the second time in three years.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tiger-Cats have won four of the last five meetings with the Alouettes.

2. Montreal has lost five games by 25 points or more in 2017.

3. Masoli has thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive contests.

PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 37, Alouettes 18