DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen carried the Dallas Stars past his former team in the first round of the NHL playoffs, punctuated with a hat trick that was part of his historic four-point third period in Game 7.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen dropped a sincere admission after scoring a hat trick to eliminate his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round.

Rantanen became the first player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7. He now has 11 points in his past three Stanley Cup Playoffs games after four points (three goals, one assist; all in third period) in Game 7 and ranks fourth among active players in career postseason points per game (1.28; 113 in 88 games).