An illustrative example fuel cell component includes a plate with a plurality of flow channels in at least one side of the plate. Each of the flow channels has a length between an inlet and an outlet. Each of the flow channels has a width and a depth, which are transverse to the length. At least some of the flow channels include a portion near the inlet and the width or the depth of the portion is greater than the width or depth along a majority of the length of those flow channels.