WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik was suspended three games for his late hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta.

Orpik will miss Game 3 Monday, Game 4 Wednesday and Game 5 Saturday. He’d be eligible to return if the series gets to Game 6 on May 10.

Orpik hit Maatta in the head after the puck was gone four minutes into Game 2 Saturday and was given a two-minute minor penalty for interference. After a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety, the punishment was far more severe.

Director of player safety Patrick Burke said Sunday in the video announcing the suspension that “this hit is forceful, unacceptably high and excessively late.” Orpik waiting a full second after Maatta released the puck for a shot and his “significant head contact” contributed to the suspension, as did Maatta’s injury.

“No player should reasonably expect to be hit at this time and in this manner,” Burke said.

Maatta left the game and did not return. Coach Mike Sullivan said the team would probably have an update on Maatta’s status Monday.

The 21-year-old Finn has a concussion history dating to his time playing junior hockey.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan expressed his displeasure with the hit after his team’s 2-1 victory in Game 2 Saturday night.

“I thought it was a late hit,” Sullivan said. “I thought it was a target to his head. I think it’s the type of hit that everyone in hockey is trying to remove from the game.”

Orpik didn’t have a rap sheet with the NHL but does have a reputation for playing on the edge. While the Capitals did not make Orpik available to speak to reporters after the game, coach Barry Trotz said he spoke with the defenseman about the hit.

Trotz relayed that Orpik thought the puck was coming back to Orpik and that he didn’t intend to hit Maatta like that.

“He just finished on a hit,” Trotz said. “There’s a little size difference, and I think Maatta was leaning over a little bit.”

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said Orpik’s hit on Maatta “looked bad right away.”

“You can word it how you want,” Crosby said. “It didn’t look good.”