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Trotz doesn't regret pulling Holtby

Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports

Barry Trotz isn't second-guessing his decision to remove Braden Holtby from Saturday's Game 2 defeat.

"I probably would regret if I didn't do it," the Washington Capitals head coach said, according to NHL.com's Katie Brown, after a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that put his club in a 2-0 series deficit heading on the road.

Holtby was replaced by Philipp Grubauer to begin the third period after surrendering three goals on 14 shots, including a soft one to Penguins forward Jake Guentzel late in the second period.

The Capitals now travel to Pittsburgh facing the possibility of being put on the brink of elimination after winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular-season club.

Washington has lost eight of nine series against the Penguins in their history, and Trotz knows rallying against the defending Stanley Cup champions won't be easy.

"We're going to have to go places we haven't gone before to beat this team," Trotz said.

Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night in Pittsburgh.

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