Carlyle stars in HBO 24/ 7 premiere

TORONTO — Randy Carlyle and a toaster oven were the stars of this year’s premiere of “24/7 Red Wings/Maple Leafs: Road to the NHL Winter Classic.”

Amid plenty of reminders of Toronto’s recent losing ways, the coach provided some comic relief with the HBO cameras there to document his struggle with making breakfast.

“I’ve got a toast stuck in the toaster. It is. It is stuck in the toaster,” Carlyle said. “You guys did this on purpose.”

It was one of few moments that seemed spontaneous, during the show’s first episode that took care of introducing the main story lines from the Leafs’ playoff collapse to Daniel Alfredsson’s addition to the Detroit Red Wings.

Joffrey Lupul’s rehab from a groin injury, Dion Phaneuf’s disciplinary proceedings for his hit on Kevan Miller and Pavel Datsyuk’s return from a concussion also got plenty of air time.

HBO’s cinematography made everything on the ice look beautiful.

The Maple Leafs, who are coming off a 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, will face the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight (7 p.m., RSO).

Phaneuf was the first Leafs player featured. Close-ups of his closet turned into shots of him getting dressed and kissing his wife and dog goodbye before driving to Air Canada Centre.

Before the day ended, the Leafs had a loss to the Bruins and Phaneuf knew he was facing a hearing with the NHL for his hit from behind on Boston defenceman Kevin Millar.

The Leafs snapped a threegame losing streak as Joffrey Lupul and Peter Holland each scored twice and combined with linemate Mason Raymond for 11 points to beat the Stanley Cup champions.

Tied 1-1 after the first period, Toronto outscored Chicago 4-1 in the second to pull ahead for its first win in regulation time since Nov. 19.