Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent down to third line in return to Islanders lineup

MONTREAL — Jean-Gabriel Pageau was back in the Islanders lineup on Tuesday, but for the time being, Simon Holmstrom has successfully Wally Pipped Pageau out of a top-line role.Two straight two-goal games for a player who had never done such a thing in the NHL will do that.Holmstrom stayed up with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat, while Pageau centered a newly constructed third line with Kyle MacLean and Oliver Wahlstrom on either side as the Islanders lost to the Canadiens, 2-1, in overtime on Nick Suzuki’s winner.After missing the last two games with a lower-body injury, Pageau said there were no worries about re-aggravating it.“That’s why I sat a couple games, just to make sure it’s not getting worse,” Pageau said before skating 14:28, the least ice time he’s seen since mid-October.“Sometimes it’s almost mental, too.

Your brain’s telling you you can’t go, it would’ve gotten worse.And now I’m feeling good to go.

It’s not in my head.I’m not worried about it.”Tuesday’s match against the Canadiens marked the first time MacLean and Pageau had ever played together on a line, and the first time Pageau had been with Wahlstrom since Feb.

24 of last season.For MacLean and Wahlstrom, who have almost exclusively played on the fourth line this season and who have struggled to contribute offensively, it also represented an opportunity to be used in a slightly different role.Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! “He’s a really smart player,” MacLean told The Post of Pageau.“He does a lot of little things really well.

A lot of details.He’s got a really good stick.

Smart with the puck, so just playing with him and reading off him, him reading off us.Hopefully it clicks and we’l...