TORONTO — Randy Carlyle was fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday following a road trip in which the team lost five of seven games and showed few signs it would regain the promise from earlier in the season.

The dismissal comes after 40 games, with Toronto 21-16-3, fourth in the Atlantic Division and holding one of the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs have struggled on defense and played erratically.

“I think we’d all agree we’ve had some good periods, good stretches, but I don’t think I can stand here in front of you and say that we’ve been consistent,” general manager Dave Nonis said at a news conference. “We just felt at this point this was the right time to make the change and move ahead.”

Assistants Steve Spott and Peter Horachek will be behind the bench for Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals. Horachek ran the first practice since the firing. Nonis did not indicate if or when the Leafs might hire a full-time head coach. Horachek and/or Spott could handle the job for the rest of the season.

Carlyle, who was informed of management’s decision Monday night, went 91-78-19 in 188 games over parts of four seasons. He won the Stanley Cup as coach of the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.