Kane, 34, played his first 16 seasons in the NHL in Chicago, which he led to three Stanley Cup titles before being traded the other day.
Instead, Ottawa scored two goals from Derick Brassard, who played his 1,000th NHL game.
It was Ottawa's fourth straight win.
Kane, who was traded in a three-club deal that also involved Arizona, played 19:36 and had four shots on goal.
He had -2 in the stats.
It was the first game since February 22.
- I haven't played for a while and maybe I was a little rusty, but it feels great to be part of this team, says Kane.
Zibanejad suited up for the 3-2 goal
Kane was also given the honor of participating in the first chain, alongside center Vincent Trocheck and with Artemij Panarin on the left side.
Vladimir Tarasenko gave Rangers a 3-2 lead in the second period after Mika Zibanejad's opening pass.
Brassard scored the game-winning 4-3 goal and it was important to him.
- I will remember it for the rest of my life.
It was such an awesome feeling and I was up early and my head was just spinning, says Brassard about scoring two goals in his 1,000th game.
He has 543 points in his 1000 games in the NHL.
Boston fastest to reach 100 points
Boston became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points after a huge 7-1 rout of Buffalo.
Buffalo played without Rasmus Dahlin, who is injured.
Boston got there in 61 games.
Montreal held the previous record of reaching 100 points in the 1976-77 season.
- For me personally, it doesn't matter that much.
I try to stay in the moment, said Boston coach Jim Montgomery, who grew up in Montreal.