A long-shot playoff dream is even further away for the Yarmouth Mariners.

They gave up a 6-3 lead with seven minutes to go, losing 7-6 to the Pictou County Crushers on Thursday night in New Glasgow.

The winner off the stick of league-leading goal scorer Lucas Canning came with five seconds left in regulation, his hat-trick goal.

The Mariners got a three-goal performance of their own from Ludovik Tardif, Jared Pitman scored his 20th of the year, but they couldn’t hold on.

Yarmouth carried a 5-2 lead into the third period.

Keegan Warren took the loss in goal making 25 saves.

The Mariners are now 11 points back of the Crushers with six games to play, Pictou County has five games left, the teams play each other twice more.

Yarmouth will try to keep their playoff hopes alive Friday night in Berwick against the Valley Wildcats.