The Grand Rapids Griffins, unable to close the floodgates on numerous occasions in the series against the Chicago Wolves, ultimately had it end their season Sunday.

The Wolves scored three times in the second period and four unanswered as the Griffins were unable to catch up in a 4-2 loss in the final Game 5 of the Central Division semifinals at Allstate Arena.

The defeat eliminated the No. 4-seeded Griffins, ousted in the first round for the second consecutive season.

MORE: Boxscore | Playoff bracket

Game 4: Griffins miss chance to clinch at home as PK falls short

Game 3: Battle on: Griffins grab series lead in penalty-filled game

Game 2: Ill-time penalties cost Griffins

Game 1: Griffins flip on postseason switch to win easily

“I think there’s an empty feeling in that everyone had more to play,” said Griffins coach Ben Simon. “It just wasn’t meant to be.”

The Wolves, winners of the Central Division, will face either Iowa or Milwaukee in the division finals. Those teams play a deciding Game 5 on Monday at Milwaukee.

The Griffins led 1-0 after the first period thanks to defenseman Vili Saarijarvi before the Wolves responded in the second with unanswered goals from Cody Glass (3:41), Tomas Hyka (5:31 on the power play) and Keegan Kolesar (13:08).

“We broke the puck out pretty darn good in the first period and we didn’t in the second period,” Simon said. "I thought we were a heck of a lot more in control of the face off in the first period, too.

“There’s a direct correlation to winning the face offs and possessing the puck and losing it and chasing.”

Kolesar added a second goal three minutes into the third and the Wolves followed with four consecutive power play opportunities that kept the Griffins on their heels.

It was similar to Game 4 when the Wolves scored twice within four minutes to overtake the Griffins in an eventual 5-2 win.

Going back to the second period of Game 4, the Wolves scored eight goals over four periods (two and three to end Game 4 and zero and three to start Game 5).

Colin Campbell eventually scored for the Griffins with 34 seconds remaining. It was his team-leading third in the series.

The Griffins had 32 shots on goalie Oscar Dansk and only allowed 20 on Harri Sateri.

The Griffins led the series 2-1, highlighted by a fight-filled 6-2 win in Game 3, but were unable to clinch in the final two games. They were hampered by the suspension of two players as a result of Game 3 actions in Givani Smith and Dominic Turgeon. Smith, with a penchant to get under the skin of the Wolves, was back for Game 5 but special teams whiz Turgeon had to sit out a second game.

The Griffins were also without veteran defensemen Brian Lashoff, out since an injury in Game 2, and Dylan McIlrath, injured late in Game 4..