Marcus Johansson, 'normal' now, eyes return to Devils' lineup

NEWARK – Marcus Johansson feels “normal” again, free for more than a week from the headaches, dizziness and other symptoms associated with a concussion. Now, the Devils left wing, who has been medically cleared to play, just needs some practice time before he can return to the lineup.

“It gets boring after a while when you’re missing out on all those games,” Johansson said on Monday in his first public comments since getting hurt on Nov. 1 at Vancouver. “I’ve been waiting for this for a while, it feels like. I’m just happy it’s moving in the right direction.”

Johansson missed his 13th straight game when the Devils faced the Panthers at Prudential Center but participated in the morning skate. The Devils will be off on Tuesday but the plan is for Johansson to practice with the team on Wednesday and Thursday and accompany the team on its upcoming road trip to Colorado, Arizona and Columbus, which opens Friday night against the Avalanche.

“This is probably a real good week for him to come back,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “He’s got a couple of days to have good practice and we’ll see where he is for Friday.”

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“Finally, I feel like normal again so it’s good to be on the ice skating with the guys,” added Johansson, who has three goals and two assists in 10 games after being acquired from the Capitals in the offseason. “Maybe a couple of full practices to get back into it so it’s day by day.”

Johansson, 27, said he has suffered previous concussions with the Capitals.

“But it’s been a while,” Johansson said. “So I didn’t want to remember it again. I didn’t want to experience it again.”

Johansson went face first into the end boards just 57 seconds into the first period of a 2-0 win at Vancouver.

“I remember everything that happened,” Johansson said. “That was a good sign. It was just not a very good collision with the boards. I’m glad I could kind of skate off the ice by myself. Stuff is going to happen out there. It was unfortunate. I’m just happy I’m going to be able to play again.”

Still out

Defenseman Dalton Prout was a healthy scratch for the 12th straight game while right wing Jimmy Hayes was a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

E-mail: grossa@northjersey.com