"Blue Jackets right winger Jared Boll could return as soon as next week after suffering a broken right foot on Thursday in a 4-2 loss to Dallas.

"Jared, from my understanding, may be back in a week," interim coach Todd Richards said. "It's just going to be a pain tolerance thing for him. Once he can get his foot back in his boot and there is no pain, he can play."

Boll suffered the injury when he blocked a shot by Stars defenseman Sheldon Souray early in the first period. He continued to play in the second period but did not return for the third. Richards said he did not know exactly which bone or bones Boll broke, but "it sounds like they're the right ones."

"As far as breaks go, that's probably a good break," Richards said.

Boll had played in 40 consecutive games. He missed the first 14 games of the season because of a broken right thumb suffered during a fight in the final exhibition game of the preseason. He has one goal, one assist and 89 penalty minutes. He had seven goals, five assists and 182 penalty minutes in 73 games last season.

Defenseman Marc Methot, who suffered a broken jaw on Thursday, could miss the remainder of the season. He had surgery to repair the damage yesterday."