Emotional goal a long time coming for Johns in Stars' win

NEW YORK --Stephen Johns had an emotional night Monday.
The 27-year-old defenseman missed a season and a half of hockey with post-traumatic headaches that he described as "hell." He fought to get in the lineup Jan. 16 and played his fourth game back against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Because his parents live in Pennsylvania, they were able to travel in for the game -- the first time they have seen their son play in two years.

WATCH: [All highlights from Stars' win over Rangers]
So when Johns scored a goal that helped the Stars to a 5-3 win, it was pretty overwhelming. In addition to the celebration with his teammates, he pointed to his parents, Ray and Noreen, in the stands and acknowledged how special this moment was for the entire family.
"Throughout this whole process, it wasn't just me going through hell," Johns said. "As parents, they want to help and for them to be here and see that, I probably know my dad was for sure crying. I'm pretty excited to go see them and give them both a big hug."
Johns fought back tears as he continued to talk about how much they all went through to get him back in the NHL.

"As parents, they want to help, but they couldn't," he said. "I know they were hurting the whole time I was too. That was the only thing going through my mind was going through the line and then finding them in the stands and pointing at them."
It was a moment that his teammates understood.
Many of them have been around while Johns has battled to get back into the lineup. Many are good friends who had to keep their distance while Johns tried to figure out what was going in with his head. Many have known him since he started his career with the Stars organization in 2015. Johns played parts of three seasons with the Stars (150 NHL games) before he started suffering the headaches in training camp last season.
So the return has been emotional.
"He's been through a lot as a player and a person," captain Jamie Benn said when Johns returned to play last month. "We've all seen the hard work he's put in and kind of what he has gone through, so it was great to see him back."

While John Klingberg added: "We all know him and we all have watched him, so you have to feel good for him. It's just been so great to have him back playing."
Johns said he wasn't really sure he was ever going to play again. So when he went and
tallied a goal and three assists
in his first AHL game, he was ecstatic. When he played in the NHL and his team lost 7-0 to Minnesota, he was conflicted. When he tallied an assist against New Jersey on Saturday, he was excited.
He said his first hit in a game felt good. He said getting bruised and banged around felt good. He said being with his teammates felt good. So, scoring a goal -- just the 14th of his career? Well, there's not much to describe that moment.
"I waited a long time, thought a lot about possibly never doing that again," Johns said. "Helping this team at a crucial moment in the game, I just couldn't be happier."
It was a crucial moment at what could be a key turn in the season. The Stars (30-18-4) haven't been playing their best hockey. They have allowed the first goal against in seven straight games, including Monday. They have been seeking big plays from different players whenever they can get them.

So when they exited a crazy first period tied at 2-2, the Stars needed something.
They got it after both Mattias Janmark and Jason Dickinson fought hard to win battles in the offensive zone and get the puck to Johns at the right point. It's where he scored from in the AHL. It's where he has scored from throughout his career. He unleashed his big right-handed slap shot, and the puck sailed past Henrik Lundqvist to give Dallas a 3-2 lead at the 7:52 mark of the second period.
That goal would send the Rangers reeling, and the Stars would eventually stretch their lead to 5-2. Johns was racing to the goal on a two-on-one when Blake Comeau scored at the 11:56 mark of the second period, and he got the second assist when Corey Perry scored at the 5:22 mark of the third period. He finished plus-3 with a goal and an assist and eight hits in the game.
It was the kind of performance that has people saying that Johns is the best "trade deadline" acquisition the team could hope for.
"I was so happy for him," forward Blake Comeau said. "It's hard to imagine what someone like that has been through. I'm sure he's had some lonely days, some dark times and to see him out there by himself and persevere and get back in the lineup, and not only get back in the lineup, he's been outstanding for us, it's hard to believe he's missed as much time as he has."

This has been a very strange year for the Stars. From the 1-7-1 slump to start the season, to the firing of coach Jim Montgomery in December, to the heartwarming returns of Perry to Anaheim and Pavelski to San Jose, to maybe one of the most emotional moments of the past decade winning the Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl, it has been a roller-coaster ride.
Even mix in things like first career goals for Justin Dowling and Joel Kiviranta, and there is so much to digest here.
"It's a long year, it's 82 games, and it's fun to have moments like that," said Pavelski. "We're a group, and there is a lot of good stuff that happens in the locker room. It's been fun, there are not a lot of dull nights with us."
Maybe that's why the Stars don't panic when they get behind or when they have a goal under review or when they see a team come back on them. Maybe, this serpentine path through a strange season is actually helping.
"His teammates have seen what he's gone through to get to this stage in the last year and a half to get back on the ice -- all the issues that he's had to deal with and fight through," said Stars interim coach Rick Bowness. "We give him a lot of credit for that. I think when he scores a goal like that and he's so relieved and so happy, I think the players are just so very happy for him for that moment."
Don't miss your chance to see the Stars take on the Minnesota Wild when they return home to American Airlines Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets now!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.