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Coach Jason Maas hopes to "start on the right foot" vs. Argonauts Friday, turn around last year's 4-5 home record.
Published Jun 11, 2026 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander, launching a pass during a win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton last week, will put his 12-0 regular-season record on the line at Molson Stadium on Friday night when Montreal faces the Toronto Argonauts in the Als' home opener.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander, launching a pass during a win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton last week, will put his 12-0 regular-season record on the line at Molson Stadium on Friday night when Montreal faces the Toronto Argonauts in the Als' home opener. Photo by Peter Power /Postmedia News
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Quick starts to the season are nothing new for the Alouettes, who won their opening three games in 2025 before quarterback Davis Alexander suffered a hamstring injury.
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But the Als have struggled at Molson Stadium, where they went 4-5 last season. Though two of those defeats, against B.C. and Edmonton, were by one point.
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Montreal hopes to begin writing a new chapter on Friday, when it launches its home season against the Toronto Argonauts (7 p.m., TSN3, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 99.5 FM).
"We've had a lot of close losses at home that could have gone one way or the other, and our record would have looked different," head coach Jason Maas said. "It's about making plays and doing the little things right. At home the past couple of years, we haven't done that as well. We want to start on the right foot this year and continue that trend throughout the season."
Here are some key questions and thoughts to ponder heading into the game:
The guy doesn't lose: We're still not sure what to make of the Alexander phenomenon. He has moxie, an infectious attitude and a strong arm, and the Als are a different team when he's on the field.
Alexander passed for 336 yards and two touchdowns in last Thursday's overtime victory at Hamilton, improving his regular-season record to 12-0, including 2-0 against the Argos. The Als didn't score their first touchdown until more than 19 minutes had elapsed — and Jose Maltos-Diaz's game-winning 17-yard field goal was the first time Montreal led.
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Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander celebrates with receiver Tyson Philpot, right, after Philpot's touchdown catch during second half of season-opening win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton on June 4.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander celebrates with receiver Tyson Philpot, right, after Philpot's touchdown catch during second half of season-opening win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton on June 4. Peter Power / Postmedia News
"They probably won't stop bringing up (the record) until we lose a regular-season game," Alexander said. "We're here to win games; that's our job. Whenever we're out there, we always believe we have a chance, no matter what the score is. We're a relentless group. We always have an opportunity. We know we have the star power on both sides of the ball to get us back in the game, if needed.
"We definitely played behind the sticks a bit with penalties," he added. "If 400 yards of offence is slow, we're right where we want to be."
About those penalties: That must have been some dressing room at halftime last week. The Als took 10 penalties for 113 yards during the first half, but only one five-yard time-count violation after the intermission. We'd like to tell you Maas went ballistic and upended some garbage cans, but that didn't occur.
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"There was a lot said by everybody. It wasn't just one person," Maas revealed. "The whole team was frustrated. That's not us. We want to lead the league in the least amount of penalties. We've said that publicly. It comes down to discipline and actions. When everyone was complaining about it, it was short and simple. Go out with actions in the second half and put those words to use. No more talking about it. Our guys shut up, went out and played more disciplined."
Injuries mount for Als: Montreal, already without starting tailback Stevie Scott III (hamstring), lost three more offensive players against Hamilton.
Receiver Cole Spieker and centre Justin Lawrence have been placed on the six-game injured list (ankle), but tailback Travis Theis (head) has practised and will start. The Als will be without linebacker Najee Murray (foot), while fellow linebacker Tyrice Beverette (neck), who didn't practise this week, is listed on the roster.
"Obviously, it's not ideal, but we do have our reserves ... for reasons," Maas said. "There's always guys behind our 45. We have full belief in them to win games, get through a game and go on to the next with a roster we believe can win every week. It's not ideal, but what it does for your team, it gets you experience. That's the positive out of it."
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And what about Toronto? With only three CFL games last week, the Argos are one of three clubs making their regular-season debuts. That makes pre-game scouting somewhat difficult.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly is scheduled to make his first start in 581 days, dating to the 2024 East Division final at Montreal, when he suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in his right leg late in the third quarter after a nine-yard run. Until then, Kelly had hardly made a difference, completing only 50 per cent of his passes for 182 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted twice.
Kelly's performance against the Als will speak volumes about the visitors' chances.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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