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“It’s just his positioning and decision-making in his own zone,” Subban said of Ellis’s exploits.

“Anaheim has some bigger forwards, but he doesn’t put himself in position to where he has to battle and get involved physically with those guys. He’s smart about it.

“It’s just the little things you notice because he doesn’t spend too much time in his own zone, and Anaheim wasn’t able to sustain much offensive-zone time because of the Nashville defence. They just transition the puck so fast and it’s always down their (opposition’s) throats.

“The best way to defend is to not defend at all, and you can learn a lot just by watching. And it’s a lot different to be here in person and use it as a learning experience. I had good seats and I was close to the glass and able to see every little thing. And Nashville is so loud. It’s how you communicate in your own zone and how you play when you’re tired.

“And watching P.K. (Subban) play against the top line is something. That’s not easy, and he has kind of simplified his game and is not doing as much as he has done in the past.”

It’s why the Predators’ back end had amassed a league-high 36 points in 14 postseason games — including a whopping 10 goals — following their Tuesday triumph. It’s also why any added offence to the back end in Vancouver will be welcomed like a sunny summer, because the Canucks received just 22 goals from their blueliners this season.

For the 22-year-old Subban — whose 5-foot-9 frame is talked about more than booming one-time slappers off cross-ice feeds that have popped off goalies’ water bottles — all this is encouraging and somewhat daunting.