Barry Trotz knows his club missed a golden opportunity.
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The head coach acknowledged his Washington Capitals blew a chance to even their second-round series in Game 4 against a Pittsburgh Penguins team missing their best defenseman, Kris Letang.
"We didn't take advantage of it," Trotz said after the 3-2 overtime loss. "When Kris got the suspension, (we knew) they were going to rally ... (the Penguins) knew that everybody (on their team) had to step up on their side and I thought they did."
Letang was suspended one game for his hit on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson in Game 3.
The Penguins were also without defenseman Olli Maatta, who's still recovering from a hit by Capitals blue-liner Brooks Orpik that drew a three-game suspension.
Earlier Wednesday, Trotz made a point of emphasizing the need to seize the moment in Game 4.
Trotz on Letang being suspended: We have to take advantage.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@emptynetters) May 4, 2016
Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley played a season-high 28:41 with Letang and Maatta out.
The veteran scored a first-period goal and recorded a pair of shots on goal. Daley was on the ice for three more shot attempts than he allowed, according to War-On-Ice.
