The invention is drawn to a gasket (34) for use in an individual fuel cell (20). The gasket (34) includes at lest one generally rigid bridge (44) or (46) that extends across the fluid flow channels in adjacent separator plates (38) and (40). The bridge (44) or (46) assures that the fluid flow channels are not blocked or restricted in the cell (20). Each bridge (44) or (46) may be integral with its corresponding gasket (34). The gasket (34) may be a multi-piece gasket with a carrier material having an elastrometric seal portion (74) secured to it.