A loading unit of a powered surgical stapling instrument includes anvil and cartridge assemblies. The anvil assembly includes a first tissue contacting surface, and the cartridge assembly includes a second tissue contacting surface, a first plurality of staples, a second plurality of staples, and a plurality of pushers. The second tissue contacting surface defines a knife channel partitioning the second tissue contacting surface into first and second portions. Each of the first and second portions includes an inner tissue contacting surface and an outer tissue contacting surface. The inner tissue contacting surface defines a first row of retention slots. The inner tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a first tissue gap. The outer tissue contacting surface defines a second row of retention slots. The outer tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a second tissue gap larger than the first tissue gap.
