Capitals fans rejoice as the team takes the Stanley Cup in June. (Photo by Tyrone Turner/WAMU)

The Capitals return for a new season on Wednesday, and the city is betting that hockey fans will have the same fervor that brought them out en masse for a Stanley Cup victory parade this summer. Tickets are still available for the home opener against the Boston Bruins, but the real action will take place outside Capital One Arena before the puck even hits the ice at 7:30 p.m. Here’s what you need to know.

So what exactly is happening?

Fans are expected to gather outside Capital One Arena at F Street NW by 4:45 p.m., when Caps players will arrive to mingle and sign autographs.

At 7 p.m., the action moves inside the stadium for the pre-game ceremony, with Mayor Muriel Bowser in attendance. The ceremony includes the raising of the Stanley Cup banner above the ice. You can also gaze upon the Stanley Cup itself, which has had a pretty wild summer as the Caps celebrated their victory.

What if I don’t have tickets?

Never fear: The banner-raising and the game will be broadcast on the video board outside the arena at 7th and G streets NW.

But I want to see the Stanley Cup up close!

Don’t we all. You’re in luck, because the team has been carrying the cup around the city all day, giving out free tickets to the opening game along the way, and documenting it on Twitter. It’s a good day to take a long lunch break and search for them.

Back to Wednesday night. Any traffic concerns I need to know about?

The following streets will be totally closed to vehicular traffic from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. on Wednesday:

• G Street between 7th and 9th streets NW
• 8th Street between G and H streets NW
• F Street between 6th and 7th streets NW (this one will be closed starting at 2:30 p.m.

As for parking, it’s prohibited in the following areas from noon on Wednesday through 2 a.m. Thursday:

• G Street between 7th and 9th streets NW
• F Street between 6th and 9th streets NW
• 7th St between E and H streets NW

Keep in mind that the Atlantic Ideas Festival is taking place this week just around the corner, so additional parking restrictions include H Street between 5th and 6th streets NW.

So I should take Capital Bikeshare, right?

Sure, just know that the stations at 6th and F streets, NW and 7th and F streets, NW will be closed.