By Bob Snow

The Boston Bruins open their 91st season of play Wednesday night with a 7:35 faceoff against their long-time rival Philadelphia Flyers, and before a national audience on NBCSN.

With the rafters packed at TD Garden to assure yet another in a long and consecutive sellout streak come Wednesday, Bruins’ players chimed in after the last practice of training camp Tuesday about first night and their fans, the energy and emotions, and the hopes and expectations for the 2014-15 season.

“It’s always exciting to start the season at home,” Bruins netminder and 2104 Vezina Trophy winner, Tuukka Rask said after Tuesday’s last practice of the preseason.

As Rask goes, so will the Bruins.

Two Bruins with more on-ice energy than a busload of campers chose fan support as the base of generating opening-night energy.

“It’s the fans; getting the fans into it again and getting yourself back into all the grooves, “ Milan Lucic said about his eighth career opener. “Playing at home, when they introduce your name and the team, the fans get all wrapped up and ready to go. That’s what I look forward to.”

“A few of us were talking about really getting down to it to see how we line up against other teams and have some fun,” pesky forward Brad Marchand said. “It’s a blast to play here with the fans getting fired up. That allows us to play better.”

Related: Fast start crucial for Bruins

They’ll come through the turnstiles in all shapes, ages, sizes and adornments Wednesday night.

Up in Section 311 Row 1 will be season-ticket holder Jack Kiley and his wife, Marilyn. Kiley, who once patrolled the MIT blue-line (way) back in his college playing years, has seen it all from winning three Stanley Cups to shedding enough tears in the down and meltdown years and games to fill at least one of Lord Stanley’s hardware.

Kiley’s love affair with four ounces of vulcanized rubber and his beloved home team symbolizes the core of the Bruins fan base – loyal and loud.

For Kiley, like so many of his puck peers, each season opener is more anticipated than the previous.

“I certainly look forward to it; it’s time to get started again,” Kiley said, beginning his fifth decade as a season ticket holder.

“I don’t miss a game unless I have to, and we get there early on opening to hear the player introductions in a playoff atmosphere. And see the new guys.”

Torey Krug, just off signing a one-year deal after missing most the preseason, agreed. “That opening night really feels like the playoffs for sure,” Krug said. “I’m very excited; it was a very long summer.”

At the front end of home-opener experience is Bobby Robins, the possible feel-good and pinch-me story of this season.

No. 88 is one new guy that will likely draw admiration from Kiley — and many others.

With the defection of Jarome Iginla to Colorado and the release of veteran enforcer Shawn Thornton (Florida), there is niche and a need for a Robins-type.

After ten years in the minors, bet on Robins to add some necessary snarl with a blend of Terry O’Reilly and Thornton, and become a fan favorite. If he (likely) dresses for Game 1 of the season, listen for a huge response from the fans.

“It’s been a long time sticking with the program – nine years,” Robins, who played at UMass-Lowell from 2002-2006, said after Tuesday’s practice. “You can work and get better and accomplish your dream. I just kept showing up everyday and working hard. I gave it everything I had and here I was the next day and the next day. Wearing this jersey is an honor and I’ll do everything I can to represent it. Now you need to ramp it up even more.”

In contrast to Robins are the deans of NHL and Bruins openers, morphing comments of a rookie and a veteran.

Captain Zdeno Chara will be on the ice for his 18th season opener; 9th wearing the spoked “B.” “It’s something I won’t lose sleep over,” Chara chimed about prepping for the opener. “But for sure tomorrow is going to be a little bit of nervous and kind of a butterfly feeling, but that goes away pretty quickly after a few shifts. Everybody goes through that getting into it.”

The roster leader in home openers for the Bruins is alternate captain Patrice Bergeron, beginning his 12th season on Causeway Street. “It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been in the league or with the Bruins. It’s always something special to be here, especially with the fans and the energy in the building.”

Claude Julien, with his seven previous home openers behind the Bruin pine, will again assume the ramping-up responsibilities.

“We have a job to do and business ahead of us,” he said. “We have an opportunity to have a very exciting and competitive team. What coach wouldn’t be excited about that?”

Defenseman Adam McQuaid maybe summed opening night best: “The start toward the ultimate goal.”

Let’s play hockey.

(Bob Snow also writes for NHL.com. He will contribute to Bruins Daily.)