NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — In the bunched-up bottom of the Hockey East standings, a tie this late in the regular season didn't feel so bad for the University of New Hampshire.

The Wildcats fired off 41 shots, but could get only one past Merrimack goalie Joe Cannata on Saturday in a 1-all tie that extended UNH's unbeaten streak to four.

“I really liked the way the guys competed. We were going after it. We had our chances and obviously didn't get it behind him. But we played hard,” UNH coach Dick Umile said. “We'll take the point. I told the team ‘We don't like ties, but at this point that point could be an important one for us.'”

Only five games remain in the regular season for the Wildcats (12-14-3, 9-11-2), who could have tied their season-long winning streak with just one more goal.

The Wildcats dominated the overtime, playing nearly the entire five minutes in the Merrimack zone, but Cannata didn't flinch as he preserved the point for the Warriors (15-7-6, 11-6-4).

UNH freshman Casey DeSmith was just as solid as the two teams went back-and-forth in a series of rushes at the end of regulation.

“I love the third period. I loved how many shots I was getting,” said DeSmith, who stopped 12 shots in the final period. “All in all, I was definitely seeing the puck better in the third period.”

Jeff Velleca scored for Merrimack with just 24 seconds left in the first period and Grayson Downing answered for UNH with 4:28 remaining in the second period. That was it for the scoring as the sellout crowd of 2,489 at Lawler Arena witnessed a goalie showdown the rest of the way.

“Both teams got their chances,” Cannata said. “For a freshman, that's pretty impressive. He looked pretty solid out there. It just came down to no one burying their chances at the end.”

Cannata and DeSmith had a lot to do with that.

Cannata made 25 saves before Downing finally beat him on a high wrist shot with 4:28 left in the second period. Downing got to a loose puck after Trevor van Riemsdyk's shot from bounced off traffic in front of the net.

“It sort of dropped right out of his lap right onto my stick,” Downing said. “I don't think Cannata saw it. Otherwise he would have had a better chance at it.”

Greg Burke, who was screening Cannata, and van Riemsdyk got the assists.

Cannata had stopped everything the Wildcats had thrown at him up to that point — and there was plenty — including Austin Block's one-timer from right in front midway through the second period. Block got to his own rebound and blindly put a backhander right back on net, but Cannata stopped that one, too.

“You've got to get shots and rebounds to beat Cannata. He's a heck of a goaltender,” Umile said.

UNH and Merrimack split a home-and-home series last month with the visitor winning by a goal. It was almost fitting the third meeting ended in a tie.

DeSmith has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his 12 starts since taking over as starter.

The only blemish against him Saturday came after Merrimack's Jesse Todd pushed up the left boards off a pass from Karl Stollery and just put the puck on net. DeSmith couldn't control the puck and it bounced right to Velleca just inside the circle.

The goal came two seconds after a Merrimack power play expired.

“I honestly didn't know where it went,” DeSmith said. “I just kind of pushed over and I ran into someone. Next thing I knew it was in the back of the net.”

The Wildcats held off Northeastern, 3-2, on Friday night for their third straight win, which left UNH tied with Providence for sixth in the conference, which takes only the top eight for the Hockey East playoffs.

Providence beat Massachusetts 5-4 on Saturday and with the victory took a one-point lead over UNH, but that's a much slimmer margin than it could have been with a loss.

UNH is at home next weekend against last-place Vermont, which is nearly out of playoff contention.

“I think we're happy with the point,” DeSmith said. “We would have liked a win, especially since we dominated the overtime.”