For a single frequency circuit, yes you can. The added lambda/4 (open end) behaves as a short circuit, so you can replace a short circuit for an open stub. You may experience some reduction in Q factor as the short circuit will not be zero Ohms (due to transmission line loss).
you should check your new solution over the full frequency range as the impedance changes somewhat faster compared to a real shorted lambda/4 stub. If your matching network provides some out of band filtering, you will get other behavior when using the open lambda/4 stub for creating a short circuit.
If transient energy may enter the system, a real shorted stub removes more low frequency energy then a stub with open end lamda/4 extension.
regarding negative electrical length, you may extend the negative length line with a half wave (so you make a full turn at the Smith Chart).