The San Diego Seals fell short in the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth 12-10 game against the Albany FireWolves and now face a must-win in the final week of the season.

The Seals needed a win to push themselves ahead in a seven-team race for the last three playoff spots.

The Colorado Mammoth and Calgary Roughnecks – both leading the pack – have 8-8 records. San Diego, the Georgia Swarm and Ottawa Black Bears are each 8-9. Albany and the Philadelphia Wings are hanging on with 7-10 records. Colorado still has a game to play on Sunday at home against the Saskatchewan Rush, who already clinched their spot in the playoffs. Calgary plays twice next week, including one with the Mammoth.

The Seals will almost certainly need a win to make the playoffs. They’ll get a rematch with the FireWolves for the last game of the season on Friday, April 18 in front of the home crowd.

It’s not a guarantee that they make the playoffs with a win, either, since there are four other teams who could still reach nine wins and only three spots to claim.

It’ll take a good performance against the team they just lost to – although they’ll have home-field advantage this time around – and some good luck, too, if the Seals are going to continue the pattern of making the playoffs every year.