Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale continue to build consistency and chemistry as a pairing

Nick Seeler and John Tortorella stood near the benches at the Flyers Training Center on Friday.

The two were having a good conversation, both using their hands to emphasize their points before it ended with Tortorella tapping the rugged defenseman on the chest.

“The intensity of it is always there,” the Flyers coach said Monday when asked where he sees Seeler’s game today.

“The thing with Seels is, he’s just such a team guy, such a competitor, that overrides a lot of things,” Tortorella later added. “Sometimes as a coach, you just can’t get locked into the X’s and O’s and some mistakes there. You’ve got to worry about what he does for the team, too, as far as the team camaraderie.”

» READ MORE: Cutter Gauthier brought out the best in the Flyers — and their fans. John Tortorella wants more.

Seeler has skated with Jamie Drysdale more consistently since the younger blueliner returned from injury on Dec. 8. The pairing has had its ups and downs, according to the eye test, but according to the analytics, they’ve been one of the Flyers’ better duos.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Seeler and Drysdale have played 162 minutes, 2 seconds together at five-on-five over the last 16 games. It is the lowest total among the three normal defensive pairings, behind the Cam York-Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen-Egor Zamula tandems.

But it is the Seeler-Drysdale pairing that has the top goals for percentage (66.67%), expected goals for percentage (60.96%), and high-danger chances for percentage (55.36%) among the three pairings. And since Dec. 8, that GF% ranks fifth in the NHL among pairings that have played 150 minutes together at five-on-five, and the xGF% is fourth. They also have the third-best shooting plus save percentage (1.043) in the league.

“As we have learned over the time that we played together, it’s just being consistent,” Seeler said. “The way we approach each and every period is going to be the same way and I think we’re just continuing to build on it.”

Tortorella did say there has been some inconsistency with the pairing — they were on the ice for the first two goals by the Dallas Stars on Thursday — but stressed how important communication has been between the two. It is something the blueliners feel has helped build their game.

“I think that’s something that we’ve learned as a pair here, just how to communicate to each other ‘cause he’s a little bit more reserved and I’m a little bit more vocal,” Seeler said.

“[But] either one of us, we need to be talking so we can get out of the zone clean,” the defenseman added. “So I think we’ve done a lot better job with that as of late.”

Drysdale, 22, didn’t know too much about Seeler before he got to the Flyers a little over a year ago. But he has come to appreciate what the Minnesotan brings game in and game out — especially how “he plays really mean.”

“I love playing with Nick, and on and off the ice [he’s] unbelievable,” Drysdale said. “Nothing bad to say about it. He plays the game the right way, and he’s a guy that everyone appreciates on our team, and rightfully so.”

Currently tied for 13th in the NHL when it comes to blocking shots, Seeler has three goals and 12 points this season while averaging more than 16 minutes a night. His career highs of four goals and 14 points were set two seasons ago when he averaged 14:30 in Tortorella’s first season with the Flyers.

“I think I’m playing solid,” Seeler said. “I’m playing my game. I’m blocking shots. I’m getting pucks to the net and still playing physical when it’s there. I’ve been playing my game, so I feel good with where my game’s at.”

» READ MORE: Should the Flyers take a chance on Trevor Zegras? And three other centers Danny Brière could target in a trade.

A defensive defenseman, whom Tortorella calls “such a competitor,” Seeler allows Drysdale the freedom to use his high-end skating quickness and agility to be the rover Tortorella wants him to be.

“He’s really, really good at what he does, and that obviously gives comfort in myself knowing that I have an absolute horse back there playing beside me,” the younger defenseman said.

But Seeler also has some skill.

“One hundred percent. He will pull the moves out. He’s got a couple of career highlights, for sure,” Drysdale said. “He has it in him. Obviously, he’s got skill, but I know he prides himself on the other side of the game and he sure as heck does a real good job.”

Sam Ersson will get the start in goal Monday against the Florida Panthers (7 p.m., NBCSP). When asked if there were any lineup changes, Tortorella said he was not sure. He said it was “depending on health” after the morning skate. Based on lines, and that he stayed on with Erik Johnson, it appears that Joel Farabee will be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game. ...