For the first time since 1986 the “Battle of the QEW” is what will decide who wears the CFLs Eastern crown. Quinton Coples . The Toronto Argonauts (11-7) look for an opportunity to repeat as CFL champions when they host the surging Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-8) on Sunday. (TSN, Noon et/9am pt). Over the season Rogers Centre hasnt been quite the advantage for the Boatmen, as they only boast a 4-5 record at home. The Ticats have had the Argos number, winning two of the three matchups between the clubs, which included a home-and-home sweep late in the season (33-19 in Toronto and 24-18 at Alumni Stadium in Guelph). The Argos play their first game of their postseason without their leading rusher Chad Kackert, who won last years Grey Cup MVP. Kackert, who only played eight games as he battled numerous injuries this season, will miss the game with a fractured ankle suffered in practice. His absence leaves the spotlight on quarterback Ricky Ray. Ray, who has yet to lose a playoff game as an Argo, is the 2013 Eastern Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player. He made the most of his limited appearances, putting up 2,878 yards, 21 touchdowns with only two interceptions and setting the CFL completion percentage record, by completing 77.2 per cent of his pass attempts in only 10 games played, having missed eight due to injury. Aside from the absence of Kackert, the Argos have a bevy of toys for Ray to utilize, including a pair of sub-six footers at the slot (say that five times quickly if you can) Andre Durie and Chad Owens, last seasons CFL Most Outstanding Player. Ray also has the dazzling Dontrelle Inman and John Chiles making plays on the outside at receiver. The Argos defence has often been their strength but at other times their Achilles heel; they will certainly have their work cut out for them. The rotating quarterback carousel between Henry Burris and Dan LeFevour with a pinch of Jeremiah Masoli has worked for the Ticats as of late. Burris especially has been on the money against the Argos. In his three duels he threw for a combined 985 of his CFL-leading 4,925 yards, along with six TDs and only two picks. The Ticats look to exploit an Argos defence that is susceptible to damage on the ground. Running back C.J. Gable has rumbled through with a total of 325 all-purpose yards in three contests against the Argos. LeFevour looked to be a secret weapon unleashed against the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Semi-Final gaining 61 yards including the go-ahead score with a two-yard plunge into the end zone. Samuel Giguere, Andy Fantuz and Bakari Grant have been a physical and efficient group of receivers, all having snatched at least five catches against the Als defence in the Eastern Semi-Final. So who is going to win the Eastern Final and gain not only a chance at the Grey Cup, but bragging rights in what could be another classic in the history of these two teams? As always, its Your! Call.LaDainian Tomlinson . The smooth-talking, slick-fielding shortstop has spent nearly half his life with the same organization, so he turned down more money from the Milwaukee Brewers to stay in Philadelphia. Calvin Pryor . The 25-year-old Spaniard, who joined United from Chelsea in January, scored twice, including directly from a free kick, to take his tally to three goals in his last two games. "I think he has made us better," United manager David Moyes said.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored on a power play in the third period after Keith Yandle made a spectacular play to keep the puck in the zone, lifting the Phoenix Coyotes to a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Phoenix scored three goals in the first six minutes of the second period against former teammate Jason LaBarbera to go up 3-1, but Edmonton rallied to take the lead with three goals spanning the second and third periods. Ekman-Larsson set up Yandle for the tying goal midway through the third with his second assist, then beat LaBarbera with a shot from the point after Yandle dove to keep the puck in Edmontons zone. Michael Stone and David Schlemko scored for the Coyotes, who had four goals and three assists from their defencemen. Martin Hanzal added his third goal in two games, and Radim Vrbata had three assists. Ryan Jones, David Perron, Will Acton and Tyler Pitlick scored for the Oilers. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added two assists. The defensive-minded Coyotes had trouble in their own end in Los Angeles on Thursday, giving up four goals in the first period and three more after rallying to tie it 4-4. Phoenix gave up a power-play goal 42 seconds into that game and got off to another slow start against the Oilers, though not quite as bad. With neither team generating many good chances, Edmonton scored midway through the first period when Pitlick whiffed on a shot from along the right boards, quickly shot again and slipped the puck between Mike Smiths pads for his first NHL goal. The Coyotes snapped to life at the start of the second period, finishing off a penalty and scoring 47 seconds in, when a centring pass by Ekman-Larsson went off Hanzals rright skate past LaBarbera. Bilal Powell. That triggered a flurry of goals. Stone scored his second of the season on a shot from the right circle -- a direct shot that LaBarbera couldnt handle. Schlemko followed up 27 seconds later with a shot from the left circle that appeared to hit an Edmonton player before going past LaBarbera for a 3-1 lead. LaBarbera swatted the puck down the ice in disgust, then slammed his stick on the ice as he headed to the bench after being pulled. But the Oilers werent done -- and neither was LaBarbera. He returned after 39 seconds, and the Oilers pulled within 3-2 when Ben Eager took a shot from the right circle, and Acton fought off a defender to punch the rebound between Smiths pads. Edmonton tied it with 56 seconds left in the period on a nifty sequence of tic-tac-toe passing, Justin Schultz to Jordan Eberle to Perron just outside the crease. The Oilers kept up the pressure in the third and went up 4-3 midway through when Jones redirected Nugent-Hopkins shot from the point past Smith. Phoenix answered a few minutes later with Yandle sending a shot from near the blue line that LaBarbera had trouble seeing through traffic on a power play. Yandle made the play of the game after that, setting up Ekman-Larssons game-winner by laying out to stop the puck at the blue line. NOTES: This was the first of five games between the Oilers and Coyotes, who became division rivals after the NHLs realignment. ... Phoenix played without D Rustislav Klesla (lower body) and F Lauri Korpikoski (upper body). F Jeff Halpern didnt return after sustaining an upper-body injury in the first period. ... Edmonton F Ryan Smyth missed his third straight game with a groin injury. ' ' '
