The Montreal Alouettes have lost all seven of their games against the three top teams in the CFL this season. Conversely, they have won all six contests versus the clubs that currently reside with a below-.500 record.

With that in mind, the Alouettes (6-7) will look to snap a season-high, four-game losing skid on Saturday against the host Calgary Stampeders (4-9).

Montreal nearly pulled off a shocking upset of Toronto before squandering a late seven-point lead in a 23-20 setback to the defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts last Friday. The Alouettes now find themselves tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for second place in the East Division.

“There’s no moral victories in professional sports and you want to win those games,” Montreal coach Jason Maas told TSN690. “You were up against the best team in the East and the league, record-wise, and anytime you can give yourself a chance to win against a team like that, you have to feel good about it. I know we can (win these games) and we’re right there on the cusp of it.”

Cody Fajardo threw for 211 of his 274 yards passing in the second half against Toronto. He completed just 16 of 29 passes for 158 yards in the Alouettes’ 25-18 win over the Stampeders in Montreal on July 30.

Calgary’s Jake Maier threw two interceptions in that contest, including one that Kabion Ento returned for a touchdown.

Stampeders general manager/head coach Dave Dickenson said his team has its work cut out as it returns from a bye week. That said, the Alouettes are one of three 6-7 teams that Calgary potentially can catch for a playoff berth.

“We’re definitely behind — we get it,” Dickenson said. “So you can’t just keep potentially losing games you feel you can win. You gotta win those games, and then kind of let it happen. We are playing some opponents that are ahead of us and right ahead of us.

“We’ve got to find a way to win.”

Stampeders running back Ka’Deem Carey (ankle) practiced in full on both Wednesday and Thursday and is available to play on Saturday. Wide receiver Markeith Ambles (knee) and defensive backs Tre Roberson (chest) and Darius Williams (shoulder) are questionable for Calgary.

The Alouettes have ruled out defensive lineman Marcus Valdez (ankle) for Saturday’s contest. Running back William Stanback (hand) turned in three full practices and is in line to play for Montreal.

–Field Level Media

The resurgent Hamilton Tiger-Cats will try to defeat a first-place team for the second consecutive week Saturday night when they visit the Toronto Argonauts.

The Tiger-Cats (6-7) beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who lead the West Division, 29-23 last Saturday in Hamilton.

They have won three of their past four games but have lost three times this season to the Argonauts (11-1), who lead the East Division.

“A lot of people want to say we beat Ottawa (Redblacks) three times and haven’t beaten anyone significant other than B.C. (Lions),” said Tiger-Cats safety Stavros Katsantonis, who had an interception and a sack against Winnipeg. “But that’s the statement we’ve made.”

In his past four starts, Hamilton’s rookie quarterback Taylor Powell is 89-for-123 passing (72.4 percent) for 1,080 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

The 24-year-old was 20-for-26 for 236 yards with a TD and an interception against Winnipeg last week.

“I just try to get better each day and try to find something to improve upon,” Powell said. “Whether it’s knowing my hots (hot reads), knowing how to move in the pocket.”

“I think he’s more confident,” Tiger-Cats coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “I think he’s more confident reading coverages, the expectations of each individual player. The continuity has really helped.”

The Argonauts have clinched first in the division and will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. They will be at home in the Eastern final on Nov. 11.

The Argonauts still feel the rest of the schedule is important.

“Each game is intricate to the success we want to have in the postseason,” Argonauts defensive back Adarius Pickett said. “You want to go into the playoffs spiraling up and making sure we’re going in the right direction.

“In these games, there’s always room for improvement and things we can be better on.”

Pickett led the team with 13 tackles against the Montreal Alouettes in a 23-20 road victory on Sept. 15.

Hamilton defensive linemen Mohamed Diallo (knee) and Anthony Federico (knee), offensive lineman Joel Figueroa (shoulder) and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (leg) will not play Saturday.

Toronto running backs Andrew Harris (knee) and AJ Ouellette (healthy scratch) were ruled out for Saturday.

–Field Level Media