The way e-mails roll into in boxes these days, it's not uncommon for one or two to fall into the deleted folder unread. Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson nearly did just that with a correspondence from the National Rules Federation a couple of months ago.

But he decided to give it a once-over, and noticed in the bullet points a rule in play for high school games this season.

A coach has the option to decline any called penalty shot and instead take a power play.

The one-on-one showdown between a player and the opposing goalie is the most exciting play in hockey. But it isn't always the best option.

Such was the case for Johnson's top-ranked Skippers last Saturday against No. 2 Edina.

A penalty shot was awarded to Minnetonka with 89 seconds left in the game, the Skippers clinging to a 1-0 lead and up against a feisty Hornets attack in the third period.

Johnson weighed the options.

Make the shot, and the game is all but over. But miss it, and an already heavy momentum factor further shifts to Edina.

Johnson summoned the officials, and elected to put the Hornets a player down for the remainder of the game.

"It was the better scenario," Johnson said.

Minnetonka held on to win, and with a victory over Hopkins on Thursday can win the Lake Conference championship outright.