Abstract: An electrochemical cell such as an alkaline battery has improved shelf-life and manufacturability. The cell has a gasket for sealing an open end of a metal container of the battery that forms a seal with a current collector shank of the battery without introducing cracks or other defects in the gasket that can lead to failure of the seal over time. Moreover, the gasket is configured to fix the current collector relative to the gasket upon assembly with the gasket so that the components of the subassembly remain fixed in position relative to each other during manufacture. A method of assembling an electrochemical cell is also disclosed.