Welcome to the CFL Labour Day weekend for 2018. The patterns remain the same for the matchups this weekend.
The newest rivalry kicks off Friday Night Football with the Alouettes traveling a short distance to the nation's capital.
The prairie teams gather Sunday afternoon in Regina.
Labour Day starts with the Battle of Alberta in Calgary and finishes with the Battle of southern Ontario from Tim Hortons Field. ESPN2 doesn't have an obvious conflict preventing them from showing the CFL on the holiday.
The BC Lions take their traditional Labour Day weekend off until a team arrives in Halifax.
TSN
Friday
Montréal @ Ottawa, 7:30p
Sunday
Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan, 3p
Monday
Edmonton @ Calgary, 3p
Toronto @ Hamilton, 6:30p
Bye week: BC
Montréal hadn't won a home game in over a year. The last time matched up to this time: a Friday night in August at home against Toronto. The Alouettes won at home for the first time since August 11, 2017. Montréal's 3 wins in 2017 all came at home.
The Argonauts along with the BC Lions are still winless on the road.
Passes and kicks hitting the uprights. The game featured more defence than offence. Antonio Pipkin proved himself worthy of being the Montréal starting QB. Perhaps small doses of Johnny Manziel with Pipkin could prove valuable to the Alouettes.
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The Edmonton-Hamilton proved why you can't give up on your team when behind. Hamilton scored the first 10 points of the game. Edmonton scored the next 24 points. Hamilton had the final 15 points of the game for the 1-point win.
Mike Jones had a beautiful pass waiting for him to score a late TD for the Tiger-Cats. The ball went off his helmet for an incompletion. On the next play, Luke Tasker caught the next pass and maneuvered like a ballet dancer to score that crucial TD.
Even with that lead, the Esks had to keep scoring. 2 more points would have produced a win.
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Saskatchewan is ½ game ahead of Winnipeg. Hamilton is 1 game ahead of Toronto. The prairie battle and the Battle of southern Ontario isn't just about pride this season. The prairie teams are battling either for positioning if 4 west teams are playoff bound or a playoff spot if both Hamilton and Toronto advance. The advantage in the east is being in the playoff-guaranteed #2 spot or the uncertain #3 spot.
The Roughriders and Blue Bombers have more points than every team in the east except Ottawa. The next 2 weekends may strengthen or weaken that dynamic.
@TorontoArgos signing #DuronCarter but not playing him for 2 games is like getting #Christmas present and not opening it until #ValentinesDay. @CFL
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) August 28, 2018
The Duron Carter signing in Toronto could have been a catalyst in that rivalry since the Tiger-Cats also contemplated getting the receiver. However, Carter won't play in either game against Hamilton.
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
Calgary started slow in hosting Winnipeg. The stampede of points at the end is what the Stampeders can do when everything connects. Saskatchewan held on to give the BC Lions their first home loss of the season.
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Matt Dunigan was in the announcing mix, taking the Friday night game in Montréal. Duane Forde drew 2 games while Glen Suitor did a single game.
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing
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