Braden Holtby has been better in 2015-16 than Carey Price in 2014-15

Do you remember just how well Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was playing this time last year?

He was out of this world in December. His Canadiens were chugging along with their season, in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. And Price was building an impressive resume that would eventually lead him to a Vezina Trophy.

This time last year, Price had a .923 save percentage in 27 games.

But Price has been out for a large chunk of this current, young 2015-16 season with a lower body injury. While he was playing, he was true to his 2014-15 form, and once again looked to be at the very top of the league's best goaltenders.

But right on pace with Price's video game-caliber numbers was the Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby. And if we look at his numbers this year, we see an almost unbelievable phenomenon.

Holtby has been better than Price was last year.

It truly is hard to believe, because Price's numbers seemed relatively impossible to replicate. Price was garnering attention each and every game, with a growing number of people stating their claims that Price was not only worthy of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, but he was the NHL's top player, worthy of a Hart Trophy.

If we take a look at each different goaltending statistic, Holtby is performing better this season than Price at the exact same point last season in virtually every category. First, we'll take a look at their save percentages at even strength 5-v-5. We'll also look at the two goaltenders' save percentages for low, medium and high-danger shooting areas, as well as their save percentages adjusted for shot location. Take a look at the result.

Holtby 2015-16 vs. Price 2014-15 Through Dec. 18 at Even Strength 5-v-5

We can see that Holtby has bested Price in quite a few areas, especially when it comes to save percentage from high-danger scoring areas. Take a look again at Holtby's save percentages this year in high-danger areas. That means that when the Capitals allow a scoring chance within a high-danger zone (directly in front of the net, in the slot), Holtby is saving the shot 87.3 percent of the time at even strength 5-v-5. That is mindbogglingly high. In fact, in all game situations, Holtby is saving 84.8 percent of the high-danger shots he faces. The league average is 75.4 percent.

And Holtby isn't just performing at an elite level at even strength 5-v-5. If we take into account all game situations and scenarios, Holtby is still performing better at this point in his season than Price was just last year.

Holtby 2015-16 vs. Price 2014-15 Through Dec. 18 in All Game Situations

Holtby isn't getting that same attention that Price got last year as he quietly posts consistently superb night after consistent superb night. One reason may be because he works his craft in Washington, a great distance from the hockey hotbed mecca that is Montreal.

But another reason might be because Holtby is just a piece in the Capitals' puzzle that consistently churns out wins. Sure, Holtby has been outstanding, but the Capitals have also been outstanding, marching on with a 50.8 Corsi For percentage at even strength 5-v-5 (meaning they roughtly out-possess their opponents 50.8 percent of the time), good for 11th in the league. They don't just defend well, they score. They average just over three goals per game. This time last year, Price's Canadiens were consistently out-shot, and he would see an onslaught of scoring chances each time he was between the pipes. Montreal was winning because of Price, despite of their overall porous play. This time last year, Price was seeing just over two shots per game more (30.1) than Holtby is this year (28.07).

But lately Holtby has done the same thing for the Capitals. The Capitals Corsi-For percentage at even strength 5-v-5 has dipped to a dastardly 45.2 percent in December, the fourth-lowest percentage in the NHL this month. The past couple of weeks, the Capitals have turned to Holtby to bale them out.

Holtby isn't garnering that same attention, but he will. The key to Holtby's end of season accolades will be how he finishes the remainder of his year. While Price was outstanding at this point last year, he got better by the end of the year. His even strength 5-v-5 save percentage rose to .933. He didn't just continue that consistency in December, he bettered it. 

But should Holtby do the same, the NHL has a new goaltender to gush over.

All statistics via War On Ice.