"It never got as loud as it did before the game. But the fact that it even got close says all you need to know about the Avalanche's season opener Thursday night.

On a night when 19 was the big number, the Avs used a roster sprinkled with other teens to beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Joe Sakic Night.

After Sakic's No. 19 officially was raised to the Pepsi Center rafters, the Avs raised the roof with an electrifying first two periods and survived a third period in which referees gave the Sharks a two-man advantage for a full two minutes.

If the future is as good as it was promised in the opener, maybe it won't be unthinkable that Sakic's banner won't be the last one raised by the Avs for a long time.

"It was

definitely a great night for Joe. But it was pretty exciting watching some of the kids we had out there too," said Avs defenseman Adam Foote, after playing his first game as the team's new captain. "I was a little worried at how we might come out, but they came out flying. It seemed like we were a team that wanted the puck a little more than last year."

The Avs got two goals from left wing Wojtek Wolski, and one each from Darcy Tucker, Cody McLeod and John-Michael Liles, and goalie Craig Anderson was outstanding in his Avs debut with 38 saves - 19 in the third period.

New coach Joe Sacco now has a career NHL record of 1-0, one he admitted he'll long remember.

"It was just a unique night," Sacco said. "It started off with a bang, obviously, with a lot of energy in the building and a lot of excitement. Joe was a special player obviously. And then it just kind of carried over.""