Smith to remain out of lineup

Brendan Smith called it a “double-edged sword,” and that seems apt.

The gritty defenseman has been a healthy scratch for five straight games, and during that time, the Rangers have put together a six-game winning streak. So it hasn’t exactly been easy dealing with the benching, which is set to continue as coach Alain Vigneault said he would stick with the same lineup Wednesday night on the road against the Blackhawks. But it’s also something that Smith understands.

“It almost comes off like a double-edged sword, where you want the team to win, and you want to help the team in that aspect,” Smith told The Post after Monday’s practice. “I’m happy we’re winning. I want to be playing at the end of the year in the playoffs, so these wins are huge for us. Sometimes it’s just how the cookie crumbles. When I get a chance to get back in, I just have to make the best of it.”

Smith, 28, signed a four-year, $17.4 million deal with the Blueshirts this summer just before reaching free agency. This was not exactly the scenario envisioned by him or the team, now carrying his annual $4.35 million salary-cap hit while he has been scratched in seven of the first 18 games.

“I want to be able to play,” Smith said. “I think I’m capable of helping this team win. But obviously we’re playing really well. ”

Vigneault had said that he wants to get Smith back in, and it’s going to happen rather soon. It’s just this was not quite the time.

“Sometimes the circumstances make it that it’s not just the wins right now, but it’s also the way our ‘D’ group is playing,” Vigneault said. “That group right now is playing extremely well, the team is winning.” Vigneault said Henrik Lun

dqvist was going to start against the Blackhawks, the seventh straight start for the franchise bedrock whose game is rounding into form. Backup Ondrej Pavelec has not played since he got two starts in a row Oct. 26 and 28. The same lineup means Boo Nieves will remain as the fourthline center and Paul Carey will be a healthy scratch.