Maple Leafs fire Randy Carlyle; coach dismissed after parts of 4 seasons and rough road trip

FILE - In this April 5, 2014, file photo, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, top center, looks on in the final minutes of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Toronto. The Maple Leafs fired Carlyle Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2014, file photo, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle speaks to the media following the team's 9-2 loss to the Nashville Predators in an NHL hockey game in Toronto. The Maple Leafs fired Carlyle Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn, File) (The Associated Press)

TORONTO – Randy Carlyle has been fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The dismissal Tuesday follows a road trip in which the Maple Leafs lost five of seven games and showed little signs they would soon get better. Carlyle is removed 40 games into the season, with Toronto 21-16-3 and in fourth place in the Atlantic Division.

General manager Dave Nonis said in a statement the team was "not trending in the right direction and we felt an immediate change was necessary."

Assistants Steve Spott and Peter Horachek will run the bench for Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals.

Carlyle went 91-68-19 in 188 games as coach over parts of four seasons.