CHICAGO: The Chicago Blackhawks have a sellout streak of 323 games and counting. The New York Rangers play in the self-named world’s most famous arena, and the Anaheim Ducks are undefeated at home in the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with an NHL-best 32 home wins this season.

Welcome to the NHL’s final four, where one road win could go a long way.

Fresh off a Game 7 victory over Washington at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers host the Lightning on Saturday in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. In the West, the Ducks put their perfect home playoff record on the line in Sunday’s Game 1 against the Blackhawks, who also are 5-0 at home in the postseason.

“It’s been a good run so far at home, but every round gets harder,” Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said.

The four remaining teams are a combined 19-5 at home in this postseason. The home team is 42-27 in the playoffs for a winning percentage of .609 that ranks ahead of last year (56-37, .602), though way below the remarkable 59-27 home record for the 2013 playoffs after the season was shortened because of labor strife.

Of course, players credit their fans for success at home, but the NHL also gives home teams the last line change after play is stopped, and last stick on the ice for faceoffs. Savvy coaches use the last line change to get the matchups they want at critical moments, and the advantage for faceoffs can produce extra possessions or help clear the puck from the defensive zone at the end of a frantic shift.

“This time of year, especially against a team’s top line, you want to be able to get the right people on the ice at that moment, but when it goes down from there, you can see people playing against anybody,” Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said. “It’s not a huge thing that Bruce is preaching, but it still is a factor for us in the first couple of games.”

Seeking their third Stanley Cup title in the last six seasons, the Blackhawks have won 24 of their last 28 home playoff games. They are positioned to make the most of the rules for home games, but captain Jonathan Toews thinks the crowd is the biggest reason for home success in the NHL.

“When you play well and you create things and things are going your way, the crowd’s behind you,” he said. “It adds to the fact of trying to take away momentum, take away energy from the other team. Everyone wants that, especially in the playoffs.”

But Chicago needs at least one road win to move on, and top-seeded Anaheim is 11-3 at Honda Center since Feb. 27. The Ducks outscored the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames 18-6 at home while beginning the playoffs with eight wins in nine games.

New York’s 2-1 overtime win against Washington on Wednesday was the Rangers’ fifth victory in seven home playoff games. They also improved to 7-0 at home in Game 7.

The Lightning needed a Game 7 home win against Detroit to escape the first round, and coach Jon Cooper said that was where home ice provides the biggest advantage. Home teams are 94-65 in Game 7s in the playoffs, including 3-0 this year.

“I do think it matters in Game 7, and that’s why you want it,” Cooper said. “That’s the one game that home ice can matter.”