Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, injured in a game against Columbus, is on week-to-week status, team officials said Monday.

The NHL's leading scorer suffered an upper-body strain during a game against Columbus, a team report said.

Ovechkin and Coach Bruce Boudreau had initially indicated the all-star player's status was day-to-day.

"I can't tell you how I got hurt," Ovechkin said after the Caps' 5-4 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets Sunday. He left the ice in the second period and seemed to be favoring his left shoulder.

The left winger from Russia is the NHL scoring leader with 14 goals and 23 points in 14 games. He took only one shot before leaving the Columbus game.

Ovechkin is expected to miss the Caps' game at New Jersey Wednesday.

"We have to buckle down," Boudreau said. "A goal a game he scores, so we got to play better defense and cannot allow four or five goals a game. You have to win 3-1 and 2-1 and if you get lucky sometimes make it a 4-2 game. I think we have enough character players who understand what we will have to do without Alex."