For Ricky Ray it won't be quite the same animosity that the Hamilton/Argos game brought to the field, as that's a whole different world of nasty, still when Toronto meets Montreal there's always a little bit of extra interest in the event.
The football version of storied rivalry of the cities takes place tonight when the Argos take on the Als at Molson Stadium. A rivalry that Argo head coach Scott Milanovich now sees from the Double Blue side of the field, returning to the city where he found success in the Als most productive of eras, Milanovich will bring his squad into Montreal to play a struggling Als squad that is showing signs of slowing down while his Argos are revving up.
Two teams perhaps heading in different directions this year, the Argos on the rise with Ricky Ray taking the helm of the offence, providing for an aerial display that hasn't been seen in Toronto for a long time.
In Montreal, with Anthony Calvillo struggling with injuries in the early season there is the sense of a team in decline, the halcyon days of the last ten years starting to fade as the cold reality that it may be time to rebuild the perennial top dogs of the CFL east.
Calvillo when healthy is as dangerous a quarterback as there is in the CFL, his longevity at the position means that he's seen every situation and generally finds the right play at the right time to make the most of it all.
However, he has clearly been hobbled in the first four weeks, leading some to wonder if perhaps it's not time to have him sit out a few games to get fully healthy for the post Labour Day stretch. It's a decision that coach Marc Trestman hasn't seemingly found cause to make yet, but if the injury situation for the Als on field leader gets worse, then the Als will truly be in dire straits.
For Toronto, the genesis of a revival has been seen over the last few weeks, Ricky Ray has grown more comfortable with the collection of receivers he has to work with and he has used the running game to gain field position at key times.
While there have been a few setbacks along the way, the Argos are most likely quite happy with the progression rate of their offence as it tries to find its way in a new environment.
The only real concern of the Argos in the early going is the rather worrisome performance of the special teams which have at times allowed the opposition to gain massive yardage as well as timely game changing points.
That seems to be a work in progress for the Argos, so for now, it will be up to the defence to stop the opposing teams from scoring, while the offence will have to put up as many points as it takes to win.
How that all works out gets another shake on Friday night.
Game Time 7:30 ET, 4:30 PT Molson Stadium TSN
Toronto 23 at Montreal 20 (22,773)
Pre Game
CFL Video Preview
Globe and Mail-- Argonauts set course for East lead
National Post-- Three things: Argonauts vs. Alouettes
Toronto Sun-- Argos' Ray, Als' Calvillo following similar scripts
Toronto Star-- Montreal QB Anthony Calvillo braces for painful night against Toronto ...
Montreal Gazette-- Alouettes' Brandon Whitaker chafes for carries
Team Backgrounders
Toronto Argonauts
Montreal Alouettes
Post Game
CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights
Globe and Mail-- Argonauts hang on to edge Alouettes
National Post-- Argos' defence holds off Alouettes for tight victory
Toronto Sun-- Better late than never for Ray
Toronto Star-- Toronto Argonauts edge Montreal Alouettes 23-20, take over first place..
Montreal Gazette-- After 23-20 loss to Argos, Alouettes desperately need a win
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