Photo courtesy Glenn Cattty / Getty Images

Happy 38th to Peter Forsberg. Looking forward to October 8th when #21 is going up to the rafters.

Happy Birthday to Avalanche defenseman Ryan O'Byrne. OB Wan is 27 today.

Photo courtesy Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Birthday wishes go out to former Avalanche player and current Avalanche executive Eric Lacroix, who turns the big 4-0 today. (And yes, typing that makes me feel really damn old).

December 9th, 2007. Milan Hejduk has somewhat of a good game, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists as the Avalanche knock of the St Louis Blues 9-5. The hat trick was the 5th - and most recent - of Hejduk's career and the 6 points are a career high. His linemate, Paul Stastny, had 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), tying his career best night.

On a grander scale, the win was the 1,000th win for the franchise. My notes here say that it was the 6th fastest to 1000 wins in NHL history, so that must be true.

December 9th, 2008. In his 3rd NHL game, Chris Stewart receives a brilliant shuffle pass from Ian Laperriere (over the head of the Kings' Kyle Quincey) and beats Jason Labarbera on the ensuing breakaway for his first NHL goal. Interesting for Stewie's goal to be a shortie. It's his only shorthanded goal to date - possibly because he has played a total of just 8:36 on the penalty kill over his 153-game NHL career...and average of about 3 seconds per game.

Hey kids, don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. All of the cool kids are doing it. Our totally meaningless goal is 500 Facebook fans by the end of the year

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

October 3, 2007 - In the first game of his sophomore season, Paul Stastny buries a pass from Jaroslav Hlinka to record his first career NHL hat trick. Andrew Brunette also assisted on the play (with a beauty of a pass) and John-Michael Liles started things off by stripping Sergei Zubov of the puck back at the other blueline.

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October 1st, 2009 - I'm a little late getting this one up...maybe my subconscious delayed this because I'm still in a little bit of denial. On this night, the greatest Avalanche player in history had his #19 retired. I don't think we need to say any more.

Happy 28th birthday to Avalanche goalie Jason Bacashihua. Interestingly, Peter Budaj and B-Cash have birthdays just two days apart and both goalies were taken in the 2001 draft (Bacashihua in the 1st round, Budaj in the 2nd).

Happy 28th birthday to Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj. Not sure about the rest of the crew...but I still believe.

[Derek here: Happy birthday Peter! I still believe as well!]

[Mike here: Happy birthday Boots! I never stopped believing!]