David Aebischer was good. Hot-tub-after-a-day-of-skiing good. Twenty-dollar-bill-on-the- sidewalk good. Dare we say . . . Patrick Roy good?

After spending three years as Roy's goaltending protégé, Aebischer made his first career season-opening start for the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, and the result was better than anyone could have expected.

Aebischer made 31 saves, and the sellout crowd serenaded him with chants of "Ab-by, Ab-by" in the final minute of Colorado's 5-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I'm happy that game is over because it's been a long time since I was waiting for that game," he said.

"It's always kind of weird to start the season. It's a long game. You look up there and time is not running down very quickly. It was a tough game, but I enjoyed it."

When Roy retired after winning an NHL-record 551 games and four Stanley Cup titles, the focus quickly turned to Aebischer, a Swiss-born goalie who has 70 career games and 33 victories to his credit.

Throughout training camp, Aebischer patiently answered repeated questions about the pressure of replacing Roy, and he backed up his self-confidence by recording the first opening- night shutout in franchise history.

"You could see that his confidence was at a level it needed to be," Avalanche coach Tony Granato said.

"When you're up 3-0 or 4-0, it's hard to play as a goalie. He stayed focused enough to make the big saves.

"It's a very good way for him to start. He deserves that because he worked hard to get ready for this opportunity."

In recording his seventh career shutout, Aebischer made 13 saves in the third period, including one reminiscent of his mentor.

After gloving a shot by Jon Klemm in traffic, Aebischer made sure he drew a whistle by holding the puck above his head in a Statue-of-Liberty pose that was one of Roy's trademarks.

Asked if the pose was a tribute to Roy, Aebischer smiled. "We'll see. He'll tell me if he was watching."

The move prompted the crowd to go into its dear-Abby chant, which continued until the game's final horn.

"It was very nice," he said. "I almost felt like I was back in Switzerland."

Though Aebischer's debut as the No. 1 goalie turned into a love-fest, Avalanche fans would be wise to curb their enthusiasm.

Colorado Rockies fans enjoyed a similar honeymoon when pitcher Mike Hampton threw a shutout in his debut at Coors Field in 2001. Two seasons, 28 losses and an inflated ERA later, Hampton was traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Luckily for Aebischer, altitude does not affect slap shots, and Roy taught him the importance of staying even-tempered through good times and bad.

"It's important for him to go out there and don't be too high after a win or too low after a loss," Roy said earlier this week. "Don't take it personal."

Judging by his calm demeanor after one of the biggest victories of his career, the pupil listened carefully to the teacher.

"It's just one game," Aebischer said. "I'm happy the way I played, and I'm happy the way we played. Now it's behind us, and we have to think about St. Louis (on Sunday)."