Wojtek Wolski put Colorado scored twice, his first goal putting Colorado in front to stay Thursday, leading the Avalanche to a 5-2 decision over San Jose. The season-opening victory came after Colorado had honored longtime captain Joe Sakic by retiring his sweater No. 19 in a pre-game ceremony.

The Colorado Avalanche will host one of four games on the first night of the 2009-10 NHL season, before which the team will retire Joe Sakic's sweater number. The NHL released it season schedule Wednesday, announcing the campaign will begin Oct.

Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic retired Thursday after a 20-year NHL career during which he played on two Stanley Cup championship teams. Sakic, 40, the face of the franchise, spent his entire 20-year NHL career with Colorado or the Quebec Nordiques.

Colorado Avalanche star Joe Sakic is expected to be out of the lineup for about 10 weeks after surgery Wednesday for a herniated disc. Dr.

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic will miss the next three months following finger and tendon damage. Sakic, already suffering from a herniated disc, hurt the fingers in a snowblower accident at his house Tuesday afternoon. The disc injury caused him to sit out several games in November, and an infected tooth also sidelined him on Nov.