Returning an array of raw type but instead of an array of parameterized type specified at the header

Question

protected Collection<Node> createBucket() {
    return new LinkedList<>();
}

/**
 * Returns a table to back our hash table. As per the comment
 * above, this table can be an array of Collection objects
 *
 * BE SURE TO CALL THIS FACTORY METHOD WHEN CREATING A TABLE SO
 * THAT ALL BUCKET TYPES ARE OF JAVA.UTIL.COLLECTION
 *
 * @param tableSize the size of the table to create
 */
private Collection<Node>[] createTable(int tableSize) {
    Collection[] table = new Collection[tableSize];
    for (int i = 0; i < tableSize; ++i) {
        table[i] = createBucket();
    }
    return table;
}

For the createTable() method, the return type is Collection<Node>[] but ended up what the function return was Collection[] and this piece of code can still successfully be compiled and executed. My question is the compiler performs type checking based on static type but the static type of table which is Collection[] doesn't match the return type Collection<Node>[] why is the code still able to be compiled?

I read through different questions at and understand the fact that if raw type is used then generics are turned off. Java assumes that the generic type is Object so I thought table should be Collection<Object> and therefore the code will not be compiled too however it still works so can someone correct my understanding?