The Boston Globe kirjoitti kuun alussa Thomasista seuraavasti.
"Net result is roster for Thomas
Free agent goalie sticks - for now
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 10/2/2001
As expected, the Bruins trimmed their roster yesterday. The surprise came not in the players sent to Providence or released, but in who was still here. The team has kept three goaltenders for the time being - Byron Dafoe, John Grahame , and Tim Thomas.
Thomas, who signed as a free agent Sept. 4, had a tremendous training camp. However, if the Bruins decide to keep Thomas to back up Dafoe instead of Grahame, they would have to send Grahame through waivers and risk losing him.
''There are only two nets so we won't have three goalies for long,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek.
''All that stuff that I don't understand nor care about [such as the waiver issue], it all factors in. It will all work its way out but right now we have three goalies.''
Dafoe and Thomas both finished the exhibition season undefeated.
Dafoe had a 2-0-0 record, a 1.85 goals-against average, and .911 save percentage. Thomas was 3-0-0 with a 2.04 GAA and .934 save percentage. Grahame absorbed all three of Boston's losses (0-3-0) with a 2.76 GAA and .899 save percentage."
Timpan nykykunto vaikuttaisi siis melko lupaavalta.
Maalinteko on ollut Kärppien suurin ongelma, ainakin ennen kahta edellistä peliä, joissa tilanne helpotti edes hieman. Ehkäpä Junno on hyökkääjänkin perässä, tai sitten luotettavan maalivahdin odotetaan tuovan rentoutta pelin kaikilla osa-alueilla? Korhonen ja Kangas kun ovat päästäneet turhan helppoja sisään.