Alex Ovechkin has been deemed "week to week" with an upper-body injury after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, according to ESPN.com.
The reigning league MVP suffered the "upper-body strain" during an overtime loss to Columbus on Sunday and was present at the Capitals' practice facility on Monday to undergo treatment.
Since coming into the league in 2005, Ovechkin has missed just two games due to injury.
The Capitals are keeping mum on the details of the injury, which Ovechkin sustained in the second period of Sunday's game. He appeared to have hurt his left shoulder or arm in a scrum after taking a hit from Columbus' Jason Chimera. He did not exit the game until later in the period, when he fell to the ice after becoming entangled with Raffi Torres.
Ovechkin was the league's leader in goals (14) and points (23) through Sunday. His absence could be a huge offensive blow for Washington and will put extra pressure on the defense.
"We have to buckle down," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau. "You look at a goal a game he scores. We've got to play better defense. We can't allow four and five goals a game."
