In Gustafsson, Kane has offensively gifted D-man to partner with

Over the course of Patrick Kane's illustrious career, he's enjoyed some pretty dynamic chemistry with forwards like Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp.

But what about defensemen?

Especially offensively gifted D-men like Erik Gustafsson, who has been setting up Kane with prime scoring chances with more and more regularity over the past two seasons?

Kane thought about that question for a second after practice Friday and rattled off three big-time names: Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook.

"I've always had that chemistry with Duncs," Kane said. "Those years he was winning the Norris (Trophy), he was always jumping in the play and it seemed like we always had that success where I would pull up and hit him late and wide on the off side.

"Brian Campbell was always a fun guy to play with where he would skate up the ice, draw a couple defenders to him, give it to you with a couple guys behind you and you had some time and space to make plays.

"Seabrook as well. He had that year (2015-16) where he had (14) goals when our power play was really hot. He was bombing 'em from the point."

What has been transpiring with Gustafsson the past couple of years is awfully special as well, though. Gustafsson assisted on 2 of Kane's 3 goals in a 5-2 win over Minnesota on Thursday, and 8 of the D-man's 23 assists the last two seasons have come on Kane tallies.

Said a smiling Gustafsson: "I'm not trying to look for him, but he's open all the time. He screams for the puck too."

Gustafsson's lethal shot - he has 7 goals in the last 16 games - is making him even more of a dual threat than last season. A perfect example took place in the first period against the Wild when he exploded into the offensive zone, faked a shot, wheeled around Luke Kunin and zipped a pass to Kane across ice.

Kane stopped the puck with his right skate, kicked it to his blade and buried the shot to put the Hawks up 1-0.

"He's got a lot of mobility, and then when he's deceptive like that, he can really throw off the goaltender and defenders," Kane said. "(It) makes it fun for forwards to play with him."

Then, early in the second period with the Hawks on the power play and nursing a 2-1 lead, Gustafsson fed Kane with a perfect, flat pass, and Kane's one-timer beat Devan Dubnyk to the short side.

This chemistry has worked both ways, too, as Kane has assisted on 5 of Gustafsson's 13 goals over the past two seasons.

Gustafsson, though, said he's not quite ready to start screaming for the puck when Kane has it.

"No. Not yet," he chuckled.

One reason Kane and Gustafsson have been able to work better together lately is because Gustafsson's defensive game is slowly getting better.

"When the coaches feel like you're doing a good job defensively, you get on the ice more," said coach Jeremy Colliton. "Then you have more opportunity to show your skill and help the team offensively, so he's done that."

Colliton has worked with Gustafsson since last season and hasn't been afraid to demand a whole lot from the 26-year-old Swede.

"We push him because we know he can do it," Colliton said. "At times, he does do it, as far as his gap and being aggressive to get pucks back and being physical and even better around his own net.

"It's not a question of ability. It's a question of committing to it. So it's an easy decision to try to hold him accountable because he can give us so much."

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Colorado, 8 p.m., at Pepsi Center

TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: Colorado has lost three straight and is 2-6-1 over the last nine games. The latest setback came in a 2-1 loss at Vegas on Thursday in which former Blackhawks forward Brandon Pirri scored the game-winning goal in the third period. Avs coach Jared Bednar told reporters afterward that his team needs to do a better job on breakouts and with shot selection. "I'd like to see us move it, shoot it a little more," Bednar said. Colorado has averaged 30.6 shots on goal the last five games. ... Nathan MacKinnon is the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 in points (third with 57), goals (ninth with 22) and assists (fifth with 35). Mikko Rantanen (14G, 44A) leads the team with 60 points. ... Collin Delia, who will start in net, made 35 saves when the Hawks defeated the Avs 2-1 at Colorado on Dec. 21.

Next: Winter Classic vs. Boston Bruins, noon Tuesday at Notre Dame Stadium

- John Dietz