Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau answering the call after Brock Nelson trade

The Islanders have needed contributions throughout their lineup to remain in the playoff chase while compensating for the loss of Brock Nelson, their leading goal-scorer the past five seasons, who was traded to the Avalanche.

But it’s been Jean-Gabriel Pageau who has stepped directly into Nelson’s spot centering the second line for the Islanders, who entered Monday night’s game against the Blue Jackets at UBS Arena 4-2-2 since Nelson was dealt on March 6.

The Islanders entered Monday two points behind the Canadiens, who held the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, and two points ahead of the Blue Jackets.

Pageau, skating between Anders Lee and now Anthony Duclair on right wing, had one goal and five assists in the Islanders’ first eight games without Nelson.

“I think it’s more of the same,” Lee said. “You just see him playing a complete 200-foot game, and he does that night in and night out. He’s killing penalties, he’s on the power play with us. We’ve had some big roles as a shutdown line in some recent games, and he’s the perfect person to go out and do that and execute that objective.”

NHL analytics website NaturalStatTrick.com reported that the line had a 48-43 edge in chances in its 41:01 of ice time entering Monday. Skating five-on-five, the trio had scored one goal and was on the ice for one goal against.

“If we would get outshot every game, then I think you start to worry about what you can do better,” Pageau said. “But if the chances are there, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. They’re going to start going in.”

Pageau came into Monday averaging 17:00 of ice time this season. He played more than 18 minutes in four of the first eight games without Nelson.

Pageau said his approach has not changed in his new role. He also pointed out that he centered Lee on a third line earlier in the season.

“You’re playing more minutes,” Pageau said. “I think you’ve got to manage your ice time better, having some short shifts. You want to let yourself go a little bit on the offensive side, try to make plays. So it doesn’t change, really, my mentality or the way I approach every game.”

Not that the coaching staff or his teammates are looking at Pageau as a direct replacement for Nelson. Coach Patrick Roy acknowledged that it takes time for any team to get over losing a major component such as Nelson, who had been with the Islanders since 2013.

“My point is, you don’t replace a guy like him,” Roy said. “Everybody needs to play a little bigger role, basically, for us to be successful.”

Actually, Roy believes the player most directly impacted by Nelson’s departure is Casey Cizikas, now in Pageau’s previous role of centering the third line.

Cizikas’ natural position is in the middle and, for most of his career, he’s centered the fourth line, but this season, he’s spent ample time as a third-line wing.

“It’s helpful to have Casey playing the way he’s doing,” Roy said. “It brings the depth that we need.”

Notes & quotes: Roy went with defenseman Adam Boqvist as a forward for the second time in seven games, this time with third-line right wing Hudson Fasching unavailable because of illness. Former fourth-liner Matt Martin remained a healthy scratch. Boqvist skated on Cizikas’ line with Pierre Engvall against the Blue Jackets after centering Engvall and Marc Gatcomb on the fourth line in a 4-1 loss to the Ducks on March 9. “Sometimes you have to adjust and adapt, and we feel like it’s a good situation for us to go with him as a forward,” Roy said . . . Roy gave an impassioned and unprompted pregame defense of the Islanders’ penalty kill on Monday. “It bothers me when people say our PK stinks,” Roy said, his voice rising. “Our PK doesn’t stink. Since Jan. 1, we’re eighth in the league in penalty kill at 81%, and 81% is pretty good.” The Islanders were 53-for-83 (63.9%) on the penalty kill through their first 38 games. Entering Monday, they were 57-for-70 (81.4%) since Jan. 1 . . . Defensemen Scott Mayfield and Scott Perunovich remained healthy scratches.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.