Ottawa @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2018 ) Montreal 7, Ottawa 27

The Montreal Alouettes look to post back-to-back victories for the first time since winning the final three games of 2016 when they host the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. The Alouettes upended the Roughriders 23-17 on the road to halt a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak while handing coach Mike Sherman, who spent five successful seasons with the Green Bay Packers, his first CFL win, and hope to build off the victory by going over .500 for the first time in more than a year.

"We're excited we got a win and it's a stepping stone," Montreal running back Tyrell Sutton told reporters. "It's good to get the first win as it hadn't happened in a long time but we're not done." The Redblacks hope to bounce back from a 24-14 defeat to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 3. Ottawa looked like East Division contenders following a 40-17 rout of Saskatchewan, but came crashing down to earth after being held to one offensive touchdown against the Stampeders, and hope to keep pace with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at the top of the division by beating Montreal for the fifth consecutive time. "I don't know what else to say about it other than I watched the film and I'm going to get better," Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris told reporters. "I still believe in this team, I believe in myself and I believe in this offence."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (1-1): Harris was held without a touchdown pass as he finished 13-of-29 for 135 yards and an interception in the loss to the Stampeders. Linebacker Kyries Hebert was suspended one game for his high hit on Calgary wide receiver DaVaris Daniels while defensive end Jonathan Newsome will also miss out on Friday because of an undisclosed injury with Andrew Marshall taking his spot. Defensive end A.C. Leonard is questionable after leaving the game in the first quarter with a knee injury while offensive linemen Nolan MacMillan and Jason Lauzon-Seguin could return to practice this week and play Friday.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (1-2): Montreal's first victory in 315 days came at a cost as starting quarterback Drew Willy suffered a neck injury and Jeff Mathews will likely be handed the task of leading the Alouettes to their first home win since Aug. 11, 2017. Mathews completed 8-of-12 passes for 98 yards in relief of Willy, who left the game in the third quarter, while Chris Williams had his best game since being traded to the Alouettes in the offseason as he caught three passes for 130 yards and a touchdown against Saskatchewan. Offensive lineman Philip Blake injured his knee against the Roughriders and will be replaced by Xavier Fulton for Friday's clash.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ottawa has won eight of the last nine meetings with Montreal.

2. Alouettes K Boris Bede was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after making all five of his field goal attempts.

3. Redblacks RB William Powell is averaging a league-high 108.5 rushing yards per game.

PREDICTION: Redblacks 27, Alouettes 23