ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik certainly didn’t want his season to end while he was watching from the sidelines.

“It definitely crossed my mind,” Orpik said after practice Monday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in northern Virginia.

The NHL suspended Orpik for three games after his upper-body hit on Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta during Game 2 of the team’s Eastern Conference second-round playoff series. The Capitals lost that game and the next two before posting a 3-1 win at home Saturday to pull within 3-2 in the seven-game series. Game 6 is Tuesday night at Consol Energy Center, with a possible Game 7 on Thursday in Washington.

“It’s obviously been frustrating,” Orpik said of sitting out. “I could have been part of the losses. I don’t know if I would have made a difference. It is in the past now, and you try to move forward. (The games) could have gone either way. We have a good opportunity (Tuesday).”

Orpik, who was with the Penguins from 2003-14, played in 78 games in 2014-15 during his first season with the Capitals and had 19 assists, the second-best mark of his career.

The California native and first-round draft pick in 2000 played in 41 games this season and had three goals and seven assists while missing 40 games with an injury from Nov. 12 to Feb. 13.

“It is tough when you can’t be out there contributing,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Monday of the Orpik suspension. “You feel helpless. It is tough.”

Washington’s Matt Niskanen, another former Penguins defenseman, knows Orpik is prepared after the unscheduled layoff.

“He’s a professional. He will get himself ready to go,” said Niskanen, who was with the Penguins from 2010-14.

Niskanen was asked whether he can help with a scouting report of Penguins star Sidney Crosby, his former teammate.

“There are some things he likes to do. I think everyone has watched him for the last 10 years,” Niskanen said. “No secrets.”

Orpik said he is “pretty fresh. I tried to stay sharp in practice.” He was also glad to see Maatta had returned to a full practice participant.

Orpik said jokingly he will get a “great reception” from Penguins fans for Game 6.

“It is something you need to block out,” he said. “If I was younger, it might bother me a lot more. It is another game for me.”

He wore a dark blue shirt and light blue pants with a blue baseball hat with the Roman numerals XVI, representing the 16 wins needed to win the Stanley Cup.

The Capitals so far have six postseason wins, and Orpik is just glad he has a chance to capture more. But getting No. 7 won’t be easy.

“He’s the ultimate pro. He does bring that voice of reason,” Trotz said of Orpik. “He is held in high regard. He gets a chance to help (Tuesday).”

David Driver is a freelance writer.