The Blue Jackets have seen defenseman Rostislav Klesla lying on the ice several times this season, trying to gather his senses and shake off the pain after absorbing a hit or blocking a shot.

Last night, they knew the injury was different. They could hear the screams and see his right leg twitching as the Jackets medical staff attended to him.

Enjoying his best start to a season, Klesla suffered a left leg injury, possibly a groin tear, in the first period of the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. He was transported to a hospital, where an MRI was to be performed.

The Blue Jackets did not update his condition after the game, calling it only a lower body injury. They offered no timetable for his return.

Klesla, 27 and an alternate captain, was hit from behind by Blues defenseman Barret Jackman. The hit came along the boards in the Jackets' zone after Klesla knocked the puck to the ice with his glove with 2:36 remaining. He lay on the ice for about five minutes.

"He's the heart and soul of the hockey club," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "It was emotionally draining."

Fellow Czechs Jan Hejda and Jake Voracek, who helped Klesla from the ice, said they could hear screams of pain as soon as Klesla fell.

"I knew immediately there was something wrong," Hejda said. "It doesn't look good."

Hejda was told that Klesla said he heard something click or pop. Klesla could not put any weight on left leg as he left the ice.

Hitchcock said the "bottom fell out" from the team after the injury, and it took the players awhile to recover. Klesla arguably has been the Jackets' best defenseman, leading them in blocked shots and playing through nagging injuries.

The Blue Jackets will recall defenseman Mathieu Roy from minor-league Syracuse.

Quiet commissioner

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman attended the game and met with majority owner John P. McConnell and team president Mike Priest.

Bettman refused to address the topic of the Blue Jackets' economic hardships or the arena lease issue. The club says it is losing $12 million per season because of its lease agreement with the arena.

An independent study, commissioned by the Columbus Chamber and released Nov. 5, detailed ways in which the Jackets could find relief through public support.

"I'm not weighing in on this subject tonight," Bettman said. "I'm not going to feed any stories. Whatever the processes and discussions that are going on, let them run their course."

Injury update

Forward Derek Dorsett (concussion) is likely to miss at least two more games, Hitchcock said. Defenseman Marc Methot, who suffered an upper body injury Saturday against Calgary, will be out at lest one more game. Forward Andrew Murray, out since Oct. 20 because of a shoulder injury, could return to the lineup as early as Thursday against Toronto.

treed@dispatch.com