IEEEWe've documented previously the eventual robot take over of our beloved sport. From desktop-sized prototypes to ones that can stand to machines that can fire 110 mph slap shots, soon the NHL will be only made up of cyborgs ... and Zdeno Chara.

But these robots aren't just stopping at regular old puck-and-stick hockey. No, they are now moving in to dominate air hockey territory.

Researchers at Japan's Chiba University's Namiki Lab have created a robot capable of destroying you in air hockey. Not just because it plays good defense, but because it's smart and changes its style of play depending on what your strategy is.

From IEEE Spectrum:

The robot is tracking the game at an insanely fast rate of 500 frames per second. Which means that, from the robot's point of view, its human opponent is moving at a laughably slow pace. It's like the robot is playing the game in a Matrix-style bullet-time frame.

To keep the game entertaining for human players, the researchers programmed the robot with a three-layer control system. The first layer is responsible for basic motion control at the hardware level. A second layer decides its short-term strategy—whether it should hit the puck, defend the goal, or stay still—to choose which motion can effectively counter the incoming trajectory of the puck. The third layer determines the machine's long-term strategy, and this is where things get interesting.

Basically, the robot observes the speed and position of the player's paddle in relation to the puck. This data can be described by what is known as a Motion Pattern Histogram (MPH). The robot uses this data to estimate whether its opponent is playing aggressively or defensively. Over the course of a game, the robot can detect these MPHs in real-time and compare them with reference patterns to help it figure out what you're doing.

The robot is not only playing against you, it's reading your actions. We are so boned.

So, if you're at the local arcade or your buddy's basement talking trash about your air hockey skills, keep an eye out for any robots in the area. Your undefeated streak may be coming to a quick end.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Getty ImagesCHICAGO -- Tuukka Rask stood in front of his stall in the Boston Bruins locker room and summed up their Game 1 triple-overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks concisely.

"We had the game," said Rask.

"We were up 3-1 in the third, then a terrible turnover leads to a second goal and then a tough bounce leads to the tying goal. We just gave it away."

The Bruins entered the Madhouse on Madison and fought off the early energy from both the 22,110 fans inside United Center and the Blackhawks themselves, whose early gameplan was dishing out hits at every opportunity. Patrice Bergeron's goal 6:09 into the third period, to give Boston a 3-1 lead, was quickly answered 1:51 later by Dave Bolland as the Blackhawks began their comeback.

"We were making some plays that maybe we could probably play differently," said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. "You've got to learn from that."

Getty ImagesCHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks rookie Brandon Saad played his way into a Calder Trophy nomination with a strong month of March. The 20-year old forward netted 15 points in 14 games and finished fourth overall among rookies with 27 points.

But entering the postseason, Saad hit a wall offensively. Through three rounds, he has just four assists. His biggest playoff contribution so far was setting up two goals in the Blackhawks' Game 2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final.

While the puck hasn't bounced his way just yet, however, the youngster isn't pressing.

"Being able to play three rounds so far, the pressure increases, but I'm feeling pretty comfortable the more I do it," said Saad after Wednesday's morning skate ahead of Game 1.

The offensive struggles haven't worried Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, as he noted during the Kings series.

"I think he's handling it fine," said Quenneville. "He's a threat offensively. He's dangerous with the puck. We use him in both special teams units. He gets some different kind of ice time. I think he's a threat no matter who he's playing with."

A year ago, Saad was finishing up his junior hockey career with Saginaw of the OHL. Now he's playing for the Stanley Cup in his first NHL season. Compare that to 38-year Jamal Mayers, who has finally made it to the fourth and final round after 15 seasons. Opportunities to play for the Cup don't come every year, and Saad is not taking this experience for granted.

"It's been an unbelievable year. I never expected to be here. To be here, I'm just excited and enjoying the moment," Saad said.

"It doesn't matter at this stage whether you're a rookie or a veteran, you've got to come to play."

You don't get this far in the Stanley Cup playoffs without help from your depth players, and Saad hasn't been able to be a part of that production yet. He last scored on April 19 against Nashville, but the Final provides him a fresh opportunity to get some goals.

"Hopefully I'm saving them for this round."

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Leading up to Wednesday's Game 1, Puck Daddy is previewing every facet of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins — on the ice and off the ice.

Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford both had good views of their teams winning Stanley Cup titles without them in net. In 2010, Crawford was a Black Ace as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Flyers in six games. The following June, Rask watched from the bench as Tim Thomas played his way to the Conn Smythe and a Cup triumph for the Boston Bruins.

Now, they both own the starter's job for the respective teams, with Rask shouldering the load this season for the Bruins, and while Crawford had the most work, he split time with Ray Emery.

Entering the 2013 Final, Rask and Crawford are the only netminders owning 12 wins under their belts; both lead all goaltenders in goals against average (1.74 for Crawford, 1.75 for Rask); both are tops in save percentage (.943 for Rask, .935 for Crawford); and both have had success in overtime in this postseason (4-1 for Rask, 3-1 for Crawford).

Basically, their teams haven't reached this point of the season in spite of them; Crawford and Rask have played vital roles in the success.

So which one gives their team the better edge?

Getty ImagesCHICAGO -- During Stanley Cup Media Day, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli was asked about the 2006 NHL Draft in Vancouver when the team acquired goaltender Tuukka Rask. He let it be known that the end result could have been much different.

While Chiarelli was officially on the job, Jeff Gorton, now with the New York Rangers, was was the acting GM. Gorton swung the deal that acquired Rask from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Andrew Raycroft. According to Chiarelli, the Bruins were very close to acquiring a forward instead of the goaltender who's helped carry them to a second Final in three seasons.

"[I]n talking to the guys, it was like [Jiri] Tlusty or Rask for Raycroft," said Chiarelli. "There was a lot of discussion at both ends about it. It was decided that it would be Rask from Boston's end. I think they tried to come back and maybe flip that, consider the other guy, who is a good player in Carolina now. Eventually they said no and the deal was done. Wish I could tell you more."

Getty ImagesCHICAGO -- Jamal Mayers might be this year's Oldest Guy To Never Win a Cup at age 38, but he's not the old guy on the mind of most. Twenty-one years after his last triumph, 41-year old Jaromir Jagr is back in the Stanley Cup spotlight.

Back in Jagr's early years, when he rode shotgun with Mario Lemieux as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins forward David Krejci was just getting started in hockey. Growing up in the former Czechoslovakia, if there was hockey on television, it was the Penguins and Krejci was watching.

"Every time they showed hockey on TV it was always Pittsburgh," said Krejci during Tuesday's Stanley Cup Media Day. "I don't remember any other team. He's a big name. He's very big in Czech, especially 20 years ago when they won two Cups."

The Bruins forward didn't get the chance to meet Jagr until the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver when the pair played for the Czech Republic. "I was nervous," Krejci admitted.

Fellow countryman Michael Frolik of the Chicago Blackhawks grew up in Kladno, the hometown made famous by Jagr. Like Krejci, he looked up to Jagr, even wearing No. 68 to Florida Panthers camp early in his NHL career. They met during the 2004-05 lockout playing in the Czech Republic. Frolik, like Jagr, began playing professionally at age 16.

"Right now we know the Cup will be going to my hometown, so that's a good thing," Frolik told CSN Chicago last week. "I know Jagr and Krejci, I played with Krejci in (juniors) one year in the same line so I'm very familiar with him and I know he's a very good skill player."

Over 20 years since he broke into the league, Jagr's influence on a generation of Czech hockey players continues to grow.

"After [Pittsburgh's '91 and '92 Cup wins], if you ask any hockey player from Czech who's my age, everybody's going to say Jagr's their favorite player," said Krejci.

"I'm glad that he's still playing and I'm on his team right now."

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Getty ImagesCHICAGO -- Andrew Shaw is an emotional person.

He's also a young player still finding his way in the NHL.

That combination can hurt a team at times, and that's what was happening during the Western Conference semifinal when the Chicago Blackhawks' forward was spending more time in the penalty box than on the ice.

The Detroit Red Wings did a good job frustrating both Shaw and the Blackhawks through the opening four games of the series. Detroit built up a 3-1 series lead and Chicago's season that started with much promise was looking like it would fizzle out.

"I thought in those three games we got frustrated by how they played," said Michal Handzus during Stanley Cup Media Day on Tuesday. "They frustrated us and we showed that. Our body language showed that. We got away from our game. We were more looking to be angry and give it to them back than play our game.

After 14 penalty minutes in Game 2, including a spearing major late in the third period, Shaw settled down, but not after being pulled aside one day by veteran Michal Handzus, who passed along some wisdom.

Leading up to Wednesday's Game 1, Puck Daddy is previewing every facet of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins — on the ice and off the ice.

They are the songs that go along with the celebration. When a goal is scored, no longer are the ivories of the in-arena organist tickled. The organ is a dying breed, and in its place the goal song took over.

We've gone from "Rock and Roll Part 2" and "Brass Bonanza" (miss you!) to various pop and techno tunes that have become engrained with a team's identity. Two of those teams, the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks, have goal songs that we've all heard many times before. Many, many times if you happen to be Roberto Luongo.

But seeing as how this is a Stanley Cup Final preview, we have to determined which is the better one.